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The Scottish climate is unpredictable and can include a lot of cloud coverage. In spite of this, solar panels in Scotland are still highly effective. Solar panels absorb sunlight through the photovoltaic (PV) cells in the panel and this is then converted into usable electricity, but they do not need direct sunlight in order to be effective.
Solar panels are a worthwhile investment for Scottish homeowners who are looking to reduce their energy bills, become less reliant on National Grid energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Though Scotland receives less sun than England, solar panels will still work on cloudy days and will produce up to 25 per cent of their normal power output.
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Solar panels in Scotland are a beneficial investment for homeowners that can improve their financial circumstances. For the eco-conscious, one solar PV system can cut carbon emissions by over 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per year.
Benefits of solar panels:
It’s a common myth that solar panels are not well-suited to the Scottish climate – solar panels for homes do not need direct sunlight and can work even in low-light conditions.
Thankfully, solar panels absorb energy from different wavelengths that pass through thick clouds as well as the sunlight that we can see. It’s estimated that solar panels will produce between 10 and 25 per cent of their power output on cloudy days. While Scotland may suffer from low light and a high percentage of cloud coverage more regularly than other places in the UK, solar panels in Scotland will still generate electricity to power homes.
Naturally, solar panels will generate more electricity during the sunnier seasons – summer and spring – than autumn and winter. This is true for wherever your house is located, however, as previously mentioned, while cloudy weather affects efficiency, this is only to a certain degree.
Another weather factor that may be of concern is snow – Scotland has an average of 10 to 20 days of snowfall per year. Solar panels are installed tilted, so most snow will naturally slide off thanks to gravity, and the rest will most likely melt from the heat that spreads throughout the panels when collecting solar energy.
When installing solar panels, there’s typically a specific process that is followed by your installer to ensure both safety and efficiency of your solar array. Before we outline the step-by-step installation process, here’s what you should consider before choosing a solar panel installer in Scotland:
For Scottish homeowners considering installing solar panels, it’s important to know if there are any building regulations to follow or permits required to commence work.
Thankfully, in Scotland, like in most other parts of the UK, you don’t need planning permission for most domestic solar systems, so long as they’re below a certain size. To err on the side of caution, it’s best to check with your local planning officer – especially if your home is a listed building, in a World Heritage site, or conservation area.
Installing solar panels in Scotland can shave money off your energy bills, but how much will the initial investment cost you? There are a few factors, such as house size, the number of solar panels and your household’s energy consumption, that will affect the cost of solar panels.
We’ve estimated the costs and savings for three different house sizes using an Edinburgh postcode in our solar calculator – though, the exact cost and savings will depend on your individual circumstances.
| House size | System size | Number of panels | Cost of system | Annual savings | The time it takes to break even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One to two bedrooms | 2kW | 6 | £5,500 | £563 | 10 years |
| Three bedrooms | 4kW | 10 | £6,800 | £939 | 7 years |
| Four or more bedrooms | 6kW | 14 | £8,000 | £1,314 | 6 years |
Solar panels are an excellent way to save money and become less reliant on National Grid electricity. For Scottish homeowners, it can take on average seven years for solar panels to pay back through savings. It also helps speed up this process if homeowners sign up for the SEG scheme – it ensures small-scale solar systems are paid for any excess renewable energy that is exported back to the grid. The main benefits of the scheme include reduced energy bills and in turn, your solar panels paying for themselves quicker.
The cost of solar panels for some Scottish homeowners may still be relatively high, even though it has decreased somewhat in recent years. The UK government has slashed VAT with its zero VAT scheme currently available until March 2027. In Scotland, there are also a few other solar incentives available, such as Home Energy Scotland, which offers grants or loans, and the UK-wide ECO4 scheme, which helps homeowners who are already claiming some type of benefit.
Though solar panels are a worthwhile investment for your home when you consider their potential to reduce energy bills and their positive impact on the environment, the initial investment isn’t always financially feasible.
For Scottish residents, there are a few solar panel grants available, including government grants, free solar panels and a bill reduction scheme. The table below outlines all of the grants and incentives currently available in Scotland.
| Solar incentive | Run time | Potential savings |
|---|---|---|
| Home Energy Scotland | Ongoing | Grant, interest-free loan, or both, up to £7,500 in total (or £9,000 for rural homes) |
| ECO4 | April 2022 to March 2026 | Partially or fully free solar panels |
| Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) | From 1 January 2020 (indefinite) | 1p – 24p per kWh of excess electricity produced by solar panels |
| 0% VAT | April 2022 to March 2027 | Savings dependent on solar panel cost |
The scheme is funded by the Scottish government, and you can apply via Home Energy Scotland. As of June 2023, funding for solar PV and solar storage systems will now only be available as part of a package that includes heat pumps or high heat retention storage heaters. The scheme comes in the form of a grant of up to £7,500, an interest-free loan of £7,500, or a mixture of both up to £7,500 – rural households can claim a grant of up to £9,000.
To apply, you must be a homeowner or building your own home. The exact amount you can claim will depend on your individual circumstances.
The UK government scheme Energy Company Obligation (ECO4), managed by Ofgem, is currently available until March 2026. ECO4 obliges larger energy suppliers to provide energy-efficient measures to UK households – including Scotland.
To qualify for the scheme, you would need to be receiving any of the following benefits:
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you could benefit from an SEG tariff. The scheme ensures small-scale generators are paid for the electricity they export back to the grid. To qualify, your solar PV system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer. Payments will come from your energy supplier. Each supplier offers a different tariff, so it’s best to shop around for the one that will pay the most for your excess electricity.
The UK government cut VAT from 5 per cent to 0 per cent for energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation from April 2022 until March 2027.
Solar panels are designed to be low maintenance, and thanks to their tilted position, most rain and debris naturally falls off. However, it’s still a good idea to regularly check your panels for any damage build-up of dirt, and there are some steps you can take to keep them performing their best.
Ways to maintain your solar panels:
Despite the Scottish climate, solar panels are still beneficial and will even work on cloudy days. By installing solar panels, Scottish homeowners could save hundreds on their energy bills annually, rely less on National Grid electricity and cut their carbon footprint.
The average cost of a solar system is £6,800 and is estimated to pay back in seven years. There are lots of solar incentives available, including grants and loans for homes in Scotland. Through these schemes, homeowners could receive free or partially free solar panels. On top of this, the SEG scheme allows for a reduction of energy bills when excess solar is sold back to the grid.
The UK, including Scotland, is working towards a greener and more sustainable future by 2030, and by switching to renewable energy, you can help implement the reduction of carbon emissions while saving money yourself.
Generally speaking, installing solar panels tends to increase the value of a property in the UK. A home with solar panels already installed is an attractive perk for potential buyers thanks to its energy-saving capabilities. The exact amount that solar panels could increase your home’s value in Scotland will depend on your location and the size of the solar panel system.
To monitor the performance of your solar panel system in Scotland, you could check the meter that was installed at the same time as your solar array. This meter is designed to monitor the performance of your panels and the amount of electricity being produced. Some solar companies have their own apps for customers to monitor their system’s performance; check with your installer if your system allows for this and ask how you can download and use the app.
With a long-term investment like solar panels, it’s important to research installers in your area and get quotes from multiple companies to find not only the best deal, but the best system for your home. Searching for terms like “solar panels near me” on Google should return a list of solar panel installers that service your area, but there are also national installers you can consider. Try to find genuine customer reviews of those companies or ask the firms to provide you with customer references. Ensure they are registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which is a good indication of their commitment to quality.
