The HI-SCOT project, funded by the Scotland Beyond Net Zero (SBNZ), explores innovative ways to integrate photovoltaic (PV) technology into historic buildings, promoting sustainability without compromising architectural heritage. By combining renewable energy design with conservation principles, the project aims to demonstrate how Scotland’s built heritage can actively contribute to a low-carbon future while maintaining its cultural and aesthetic integrity.
The team will pilot on-site PV installations and develop visual materials showcasing design solutions that seamlessly blend solar technology with traditional architecture. These include mimicking historic materials, using low-visibility coatings, and establishing practical guidelines for energy retrofits in protected structures. Supporting the SBNZ Built Environment theme, HI-SCOT highlights how heritage and innovation can work together—ensuring Scotland’s climate ambitions strengthen, rather than threaten, its historic legacy.