Two of the Solar Planning Team Members, Paula Duffy and David Toke, on behalf of the University of Aberdeen, have been successful in winning an EU COST grant, 'Smart Practice in Large-scale Solar PV Projects in Europe'. It should be emphasised that this application was lodged in collaboration with 13 other institutions from 13 European countries. Professor Maria Frolova from the University of Granada was also a prominent contributor to the proposal.
For a project summary please see page 31 of the pdf at https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2026/05/COST-OC-2025-1-approved-Actions-booklet.pdf
Here is the summary of the aims:
'In response to the pressing climate emergency in Europe, the development of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) farms has emerged as a pivotal strategy. However, their deployment has sparked political, social, and environmental controversies. The SmartSolar Action aims to overcome these challenges by establishing an interdisciplinary network of experts. The Action's main objective is to develop and promote "smart" practices for large-scale solar PV deployment, focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and innovative policy solutions. Achieving the European Union’s ambitious target of 600 GW of installed solar PV by 2030 presents several challenges, including the need for upgraded grid connections, a greater pool of trained professionals, improved incentives for solar PV adoption, expedited permitting processes, and enhanced opportunities for developing supply chains and financing mechanisms. The network will synthesize knowledge on effective policies and implementation strategies, building capacity among planners, developers, policymakers, and community leaders to ensure sustainable solar PV deployment. The consortium includes fourteen institutions from twelve countries, with seven from Inclusiveness Target Countries. The team is characterized by its diversity in age, gender, and disciplinary backgrounds, encompassing fields such as geography, sociology, landscape ecology, political science, landscape architecture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and urban planning. Through this collaborative effort, SmartSolar will foster an inclusive and sustainable energy future in Europe'
The project will last for 4 years (starting later this year) and will include of networking, training and dissemination activities, as well as consolidation of academic and expert publications in this area. The EU COST Programme is part of HORIZON.