University partners with manufacturing giant on path to net zero
The University of Birmingham has partnered with Siemens to achieve their carbon neutrality roadmap by deploying specialist technology to create a digital twin of the campus energy system.
Combining digital sensor and analytics technologies, artificial intelligence, decentralised energy generation and storage, renewable energy and concepts that help change users ', behaviour, the partnership will transform the University 's Edgbaston and Dubai campuses into the world 's smartest global campus, creating a 'Living Lab ' where research, teaching and learning all benefit from access to new data and connectivity.
The 'Living Lab ' will capture data from the University 's building technologies, estates infrastructure and energy plants and use it for innovation, R&D activities, as well as teaching.
Scrutinising energy demand and production - from systems to individual consumers/producers (prosumers) - with live data from across the sites provides a unique opportunity for applied learning for students and creates a platform for cutting-edge research.
The partnership is the largest of its kind for Siemens globally and will provide the basis for some exciting new developments at the University of Birmingham over the coming months and years.
Professor Tim Jones, provost and vice-principal of the University of Birmingham, said: “Our goal is to deliver the campus of the future, using cutting-edge technologies to make our campuses in Edgbaston and Dubai the smartest globally. This will enhance our student experience, create new research and innovation opportunities, whilst significantly reducing our carbon footprint.
“As we approach COP26 in Glasgow this autumn, it is clear we are into the 'decade of delivery ' for NetZero targets. University-Industry strategic partnerships, such as ours with Siemens, are important for helping to identify pathways for turning targets into reality. ”
Matthias Rebellius, managing board member of Siemens AG and CEO of Smart Infrastructure, said: “As one of the largest universities in the UK - with a global community of more than 38,000 students - the university is already an energy prosumer and these technologies will be further optimized in the system we are now working on together.
“Partnerships like this are extremely important for gathering new insights, testing and developing new technologies and creating efficient and sustainable energy infrastructure. The university 's campus in Dubai will be a global example of sustainability at the rescheduled Dubai Expo 2020. ”
In addition, Siemens will sponsor a team of PhD studentships at the University based in the UK and Dubai. Their research projects will be co-designed by Siemens and the University to address important challenges in data, technology, urban systems and the NetZero goal.
Siemens will also deliver a 10-year bureau for Energy and IoT services to ensure that the University reaps the full potential of both the technology and industry expertise.
The University of Birmingham has already made significant progress in making its operations more sustainable, including achieving its 2020 target of reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent and is constantly looking to improve the environmental performance of its buildings including a reduction of 2,856 tCO2 annually, equivalent to 5 per cent of the University 's current emissions.
Earlier this year, the University of Birmingham also signed up to the United Nations Global Compact - the world's largest corporate responsibility initiative - as part of its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and maximising the impact of its research.
They will also participant in the COP26 Universities Network and will have a presence at the COP26 conference, in Glasgow, in November.