With over forty years of experience in the industry we were more than up to the task of installing the solar PV system even with the historically significant nature of the building. The solar panels are installed on the roof of the Scottish National War Memorial. Surrounded by a high parapet, the panels are not visible from the castle grounds and other vantage points within the city.
A Landmark Project for the Scottish Landmark
Despite the panels not being visible, the team took every effort as the Edinburgh Castle install team to respect the building within the historic site. This consideration was evident at every stage, from the system design to installation. The all-black 375W SunPower solar PV panels are both discreet and aesthetically pleasing.
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.
The solar panels on Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s most recognisable landmark, are an excellent example of the potential of solar on other historic sites across Scotland. Modern-day renewable technology and historic buildings can join forces to reduce carbon emissions and improve the sustainability of these sites.
AES Solar’s Business Development Manager Robert Wilson said, “This has been an incredibly rewarding and exciting project to work on. This excitement is evident across our whole team. The project has very much been a group effort with members across the company lending their experience and technical knowledge. The success of this project is also a testament to our fantastic partners and their products, SunPower Solar PV panels, the SolarEdge Inverter, and Sunfixings for the mounting system."
The Sky’s the Limit
This is not AES Solar’s first encounter with a historic royal site. We were also fortunate enough to install our solar thermal panel – the AES Luminary – on Balmoral Castle Royal Estate. The installation was a result of an opportune encounter with AES Solar Managing Director George Goudsmit and Her Majesty The Queen.
The unveiling of the solar panels on Edinburgh Castle also comes a week after AES Solar’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise news. Recognising their efforts in Sustainable Development, the awards are the most prestigious business awards in the country.
Managing Director George 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.”
