We’ve funded a range of projects to guide our roadmap for the future

Net-Zero and Circular Economy Federation: Evidence-based Policy Roadmap for Carbon-Aware Compute in the Built Environment

The project develops a nationally transferable framework to support carbon- and resource-aware federated computing for the UK built environment.

As digital and compute-intensive workflows, such as whole-life carbon assessment (WLCA), digital twins, digital product passports, AI-enabled modelling, and large-scale simulation, become central to delivering net-zero and circular economy goals, the sustainability impacts of the computing infrastructure underpinning these tools must also be addressed.

The project aims to harmonise sustainability terminology, establish a structured Key Performance Indicator (KPI) catalogue, and co-design evidence-based governance and policy recommendations for a future UK National Federated Compute Service (NFCS). Through surveys, expert workshops, and Delphi validation, the research brings together professionals from industry, academia, and policy to ensure that computing systems supporting the built environment are transparent, equitable, and aligned with national climate and digital strategies.

The outputs include a harmonised sustainability vocabulary, a multi-domain KPI framework, governance guidance, and a transferable engagement toolkit to accelerate responsible digital infrastructure development across sectors.