Exploring the Role of Digital Twin Technology in Achieving Net Zero Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review

Digital twin (DT) has emerged as a critical tool in the building sector’s transition toward Net Zero. Despite DT makes a significant contribution to sustainable buildings, the role of DT in achieving carbon neutrality remains underexplored. To fill the gap, the study exams the DT implementation in achieving net zero buildings through a systematic review of literature published between 2017 and 2025. Employing PRISMA and bibliometric analysis, the paper examined 55 publications from Scopus, Web of Science, and Grey Databases. The findings reveal a dramatic surge in 2024 when publication numbers quadrupled, due to the demonstrated effectiveness of DT in achieving net zero building performance. Geographic analysis shows European dominance with Italy leading both in productivity and network influence. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified six research clusters, demonstrating a coherent evolution from theoretical frameworks to technological integration and practical implementation strategies. Beyond mapping the current research status, this study also identifies significant research gaps and future trends, including fragmented lifecycle integration, limited data interoperability, underdeveloped autonomous control mechanisms, geographic research biases, and inadequate incorporation of human-centered approaches.