Solar Panels & Battery Storage in Edinburgh

Edinburgh homes and planning considerations

The Old Town and New Town form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and much of central Edinburgh sits within conservation areas with many listed buildings. Panels on a listed building need listed building consent, and conservation areas can have extra rules on visible roof slopes, so it is worth checking with the City of Edinburgh Council early. Rear roof slopes that cannot be seen from the street are often the easiest route.

Beyond the centre, things are simpler. Bungalows in Silverknowes and Corstorphine, 1930s semis in Craiglockhart and newer estates around Gilmerton and the Edinburgh fringes usually have straightforward roofs. Tenement flats in Marchmont, Gorgie and Leith share their roofs, so neighbours and the factor normally need to agree to any panel work.

Edinburgh's climate and solar output

Sitting on the east coast, Edinburgh is generally drier and sunnier than the west of Scotland, which helps solar generation. Cool sea air also suits panels, which work more efficiently when they are not hot.

The city can be very windy, so mounting and fixings are designed to cope with exposed roofs. Generation is strongest from late spring to late summer and modest in midwinter, when short days limit output. A battery helps balance this by storing summer surplus and making use of cheaper overnight electricity in the darker months.

The electricity network in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is in the SP Energy Networks area. Smaller home systems are usually covered by G98, which means the installer tells the network about the system after it is commissioned. Bigger systems, or combined solar and battery set-ups with higher export, go through G99, which needs approval before installation and can come with an export limit. Your installer submits the forms.