Forres-based AES Solar has now added Edinburgh Castle to its list of prestigious, historic buildings it has carried out work on.
The solar energy company has already installed panels at Balmoral Estate after a meeting with the Queen, and is hopeful of landing work at Buckingham Palace.
Led by managing director George Goudsmit, the company was recently awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in Sustainable Development.
The solar PV system work at Edinburgh Castle was carried out on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) continued programme to reduce energy use across the historic properties in its care.
Solar panels were installed discreetly on the roof of the Scottish National War Memorial within the grounds of Edinburgh Castle.
Help with carbon cutting efforts
The 31.5 kWp solar PV system will soon get to work generating approximately 26,500 kWh per year, the equivalent to around 6,680kg of CO2.
These carbon savings will contribute to the ongoing carbon reduction efforts at Edinburgh Castle.
Mr Goudsmit said: “I’m sure the rest of the team will join me in saying they will never quite view Edinburgh Castle the same again.
“Instead, we will take great pride in knowing we were the company that installed solar panels on Edinburgh Castle.
“Generating clean, renewable energy, all while discreetly hidden from passers-by.
“The sky’s the limit now that historic buildings can be part of the solution to net-zero in Scotland.”
The firms said the work was an example of how modern-day renewable technology and historic buildings can join forces to reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of these sites, as long as the necessary care and protective steps are taken.
‘Rewarding and exciting’ project
HES director of conservation David Mitchell said: “The installation of solar panels at one of Scotland’s most iconic historic sites is another step forward in our efforts to significantly reduce the carbon we generate across our estate.
“Edinburgh Castle accounts for 26% of our total carbon emissions and 18% of total electrical consumption across the properties in our care, making it critical that we investigate ways to reduce this.”
AES Solar’s business development manager Robert Wilson said: “This has been an incredibly rewarding and exciting project to work on.
“This excitement is shared across our whole team. The project has very much been a group effort with members across the company lending their experience and technical knowledge.”
Conversation