Transition Engineering Lab

The Transition Engineering Lab has been established by Heriot_Watt University to provide the research. Heriot-Watt University is a partner in the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ), established as part of the Islands Growth Deal to realise the energy transition to net zero carbon by 2030 across the islands economies. HWU is the lead on Transition Engineering Labs action research across the energy ecosystems. The energy transition requires 80% reduction from 2019 fossil fuel consumption and production rates to meet the net zero target by 2030. Whole system change is accomplished by local Shift Projects which deliver decarbonisation and build sustainable real value and resilience. The Transition Engineering Lab is aligned with UK and Scottish Government Just Transition policy, aiming to find practical and affordable ways to achieve net zero targets. The ICNZ partners are Aquatera, EMEC, Orkney Island Council and Community Energy Scotland. Stakeholders include all residents in Orkney, NGO’s, the NHS, employers, tourism and construction industry. The ICNZ Transition Engineering Labs employ the Transition Engineering approach to current wicked problems in a particular place, in the context of net zero carbon. The aim of the project is to design and successfully complete the Transition Engineering Lab on the wicked problem of access to an affordable heathy place to call home for all in the context of energy system transition in the Orkney Islands, and specifically in the traditional fishing village of Stromness.