According to Euronews.green, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is one of the buildings that recently had 300 solar panels installed on top of it as it aims to become carbon neutral by 2030. With a total output of 80kW, the solar panels will provide the building with 5% of its requirements for its exhibitions and overall consumption.

A meticulous process preceded the fitting of the panels, as specific models and colors were required to match the museum's character. Iberdrola was the company tasked with finding a suitable solar system that was installed atop two of the largest buildings of the complex, hiding them from the views of the passers-by.

Museum officials said that "preserving the building’s architectural uniqueness was a major challenge in the implementation of this project, and all details - from the design of the installation to the harmonization with other features, such as the skylights - were approved by architect Frank Gehry and the City of Bilbao."

Other buildings found different solutions to make use of green, renewable power, such as Chippenham Hall in England, where 32 solar panels were mounted on the ground, away from the building itself. Underground cables connect the farm to the building itself.

In Italy's ruined city of Pompeii, solar panels were installed atop the old buildings in the form of terracotta tiles, blending with the landscape.

More cities in Europe are now opening the rooftops of historic buildings for solar installations in an effort to consume sustainable energy, such as King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, which's 438 photovoltaics are visible from the street.

Authorities in Amsterdam recently announced that by 2025, visible solar panels will be allowed on top of historic buildings and monuments, as well. Almost 25% of Europe's buildings pre-date 1945.

The good news is that the technology advanced enough where solar panels can be installed in more vintage forms, such as tiles and stained glass, making them blend easier with the constructions' design and enabling broad decarbonization.