Solar Panel FAQ — Edinburgh

Every Edinburgh solar installation is priced at survey. The cost depends on system size, roof type, access requirements (scaffolding on tenements or slate roofs), whether you add battery storage, and whether you're in a conservation area that requires a planning application. 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027. Your survey produces a written quote for your property, and the full price is confirmed on your written quote.

There is no general grant for solar panels on their own in Scotland. Some means-tested schemes exist for lower-income households, and we will say honestly if you might qualify. 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027. Loans available, subject to status. Once your system is installed and registered, you can also receive smart Export Guarantee payments, with rates set by each supplier.

Yes — solar panels can be installed in Edinburgh conservation areas, but you will usually need full planning permission from City of Edinburgh Council rather than relying on Permitted Development Rights (PDR). Edinburgh has over 50 conservation areas, including Morningside, Marchmont, the Grange, Corstorphine, and the entire Old Town and New Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. The planning application is handled as part of the project. Applications are more likely to succeed where panels are positioned sensitively (e.g. rear-facing or screened from street view).

Yes — top-floor tenement owners in Edinburgh can install solar panels on the shared roof, but you need written consent from co-owners under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. The Act governs alterations to common parts of tenement buildings. Systems are typically sized at or below 3.68 kWp to stay within the G98 simplified DNO notification limit. The co-owner consent process and SP Energy Networks (SPEN) notification are managed as part of the project.

Solar panels on listed buildings require listed building consent in addition to any planning permission. Category A and Category B listed buildings are common in Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town. Consent is not guaranteed — City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Environment Scotland assess the impact on the building's character. Roof-integrated (in-roof) panels or rear-facing installations are more likely to receive consent. Contact us for an assessment of your listed property.

Edinburgh is in the SP Energy Networks (SPEN) distribution area. For systems up to 3.68 kWp (single-phase), a simplified G98 notification is sent to SP Energy Networks and connection is typically confirmed within 10 working days. Systems above 3.68 kWp (up to 50 kWp) require a G99 application, which takes 45–65 working days and may involve a network study. All DNO paperwork is handled for you. SP Energy Networks may require an export limitation device on larger systems if the local network is constrained.

A typical Edinburgh solar installation takes 1–2 days of on-roof work once scaffolding is erected. The overall timeline from survey to switch-on is usually 6–10 weeks, including survey, design, any planning application (add 8–12 weeks for conservation areas), equipment ordering, SP Energy Networks notification or application, installation, and commissioning. Tenement installations may take longer due to co-owner consent requirements.

Battery storage tends to suit Edinburgh homes with a time-of-use tariff, or households that want to use more of their own solar generation. A battery stores surplus daytime solar for use in the evening and can also charge from cheaper overnight electricity for use during peak hours. Without a time-of-use tariff, the case is weaker. Batteries are priced at survey, and any savings are confirmed on your written quote, based on your actual usage pattern.

Yes — solar PV and an air source heat pump (ASHP) complement each other well in Edinburgh. Solar generation during spring and autumn offsets some of the electricity your heat pump uses for heating and hot water. We install through MCS-certified partners. Both systems are priced at survey. Loans available, subject to status. Some means-tested schemes exist for lower-income households, and we will say honestly if you might qualify.

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the UK quality standard for small-scale renewable energy installations. MCS certification matters because it is a prerequisite for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — without it, your energy supplier is not obliged to pay you for exported electricity. MCS certification also means your installation is designed and installed to defined standards. We install through MCS-certified partners. Warranty and guarantee terms are confirmed in writing on your quotation.

Edinburgh's average annual solar yield is 894 kWh per kWp of installed capacity (source: MCS), which is above the Scottish median of 850 kWh/kWp. A typical 4 kWp system will generate approximately 3,576 kWh per year. Actual yield depends on roof orientation (south-facing is optimal), pitch (30–40° ideal), shading, and weather. East-west splits generate 10–15% less than south-facing but spread generation more evenly across the day.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) requires licensed energy suppliers to offer a tariff for electricity you export to the grid. Smart Export Guarantee payments, with rates set by each supplier. Export income is never guaranteed, so check current rates with suppliers. Your system must be MCS-certified and you need a smart meter or export meter. You can only be on one SEG tariff at a time. Electricity you don't use in the home is exported and paid at your SEG rate; adding battery storage lets you use more of your own generation and export less.