This project represents a dynamic collaboration between Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), Robert Gordon University (RGU), and key non-university partners in Scotland’s energy and heritage sectors.
These partners include Dar Al-Arqam, a community centre that owns a historic building from 1859, CeeD (Centre for Engineering, Education and Development), a community of businesses and academics focused on operational excellence, and Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), an umbrella body for organisations working in the built environment.
Together, we aim to deliver research addressing the challenges of integrating PV into Scotland’s historic and listed buildings. ENU brings expertise in the aesthetic integration of PV technology and its impact on public adoption. Previous research at ENU has focused on how PV panels’ appearance influences public perception and planning outcomes, particularly in heritage settings. RGU adds specialist knowledge in materials innovation, including metamaterial (artificially engineered materials designed to have properties not typically found in nature) coatings that enhance PV system integration. The two lead applicants have previously collaborated on research related to thermal spray techniques and solar radiation, resulting in published work.
The research objectives will be co-developed through initial workshops with the academic teams and non-university partners. These workshops will ensure the research is policy-relevant, scientifically robust, and practically grounded in real-world needs. The non-university partners will provide essential site access, in-kind support, policy insights, support for stakeholder engagement, and help disseminate the findings through their nationwide networks.
Dar Al-Arqam will contribute by providing access to its historic building and congregation. They will also host a public engagement event and provide insights on religious and heritage sensitivities.
CeeD will organise knowledge exchange workshops and public engagement sessions to demystify smart PV technologies. They will also help develop policy recommendations for integrating PV into heritage frameworks.
Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) will facilitate connections with sector specialists and professionals and assist in disseminating research findings across the built environment sector.
This collaboration lays the foundation for a long-term, interdisciplinary research program focused on low- carbon innovation in heritage environments. It also explores commercial pathways for tailored PV coatings, with potential for larger UKRI or Horizon Europe