Solar Panels in Scotland: Costs & Savings (November 2024)

Despite Scotland’s latitude, solar panels work perfectly well and are a highly efficient way to produce free electricity for your home, playing an increasingly important role in the country’s renewable energy market.

In addition, the installation of solar panels not only helps you save money on your energy bills by producing free solar energy but also makes you eligible for a range of government schemes. These include programs such as the Warmer Homes Scotland plan, ECO4, and the Smart Export Export Guarantee scheme.

Therefore, a solar array will allow you to enjoy both efficiency and financial benefits, while also making a positive impact on the environment. In this article, we’ll navigate you through the costs of installing solar panels in Scotland and what schemes are available to you.

Struggling to find quality solar panels for your home in Scotland? Let us help you find the right installer. We can provide you with quotes from up to 4 local installers. This will let you compare the offers side by side and pick the one that suits your needs the best. Our service is completely free and with no obligation. Get started now by simply clicking the button below!

Much like the rest of the UK, solar panels can be a worthwhile investment in Scotland, providing a 62% decrease in electricity bills and household savings up to £660 on annual electricity expenses. Government incentives can also provide funding for installation, reducing the break-even point on your total cost, which can be around 8 to 9 years on average.

Despite less sunlight compared to southern areas in the UK, solar panels in Scotland can still significantly reduce your carbon footprint and benefit the environment. Installing solar panels is easy to do since it does not require planning permission beforehand.

The cost of solar panels has significantly decreased over the last few years, which makes solar panels accessible to every type of household in Scotland.

Solar panels operate efficiently in Scotland, despite fewer sun hours. While solar panels work well in sunnier weather, it’s also true that they don’t require direct sunlight. You also don’t need to fret about the climate in Scotland too much when it comes to generating energy.

Many areas of the Scottish region do receive as much sunlight as Southern areas of the UK. However, sun hours are not uniform across the country with many more northern areas getting less than ideal amounts of solar energy.

For most parts of Scotland, 3kW and 4kW systems can work fine since the average energy consumption is 2,700kWh (the national average according to Ofgem). However, areas that are further North may have less sunlight, which will require a more powerful system. This is one of the reasons why 5kW systems can be more useful in the region than, for example, southern England.

The extra output is useful in covering the gap between the lack of sunlight and the home’s energy needs. The average household energy needs in Scotland do not vary too much from their other UK counterparts but sun hours can in some regions.

Solar panel systems in Scotland can cost between £2,500 - £10,500 for a 3kW to 6kW system, with prices varying based on output and features. Factors such as additional panels, battery storage, and roof type can affect the final price.

A 3kW or 4kW system can cover home energy expenses for the average 3-bedroom Scottish home but other outputs can also be appropriate if your energy consumption is lower than 2,700kWh. For homes in regions of Scotland with more sunlight hours and/or lower energy consumption, a 3kW system will suffice.

5kW systems may only be necessary in areas with especially low sunlight. Defining the precise 5kW solar system price in the UK or other systems is difficult, as it depends on several factors, especially the size of the system. A 5kW solar system will on average generate 4,250 kWh of electricity throughout the year.

If you know your household does not use much electricity, a 4kW solar panel system with a battery may be the better option for you. If your household uses more, like if you’re charging an electric vehicle, you may need a bigger system.

The average cost of solar panels in Scotland has experienced quite some drops over time, and right now it is currently at its lowest historically. The global cost of domestic solar systems has decreased by about 87% in the past decade, according to the Mercator Research Institute. This is mainly linked to improvements in the technologies applied along the production chain and to an increased worldwide demand for solar panels.

The cost of solar panels in Scotland depends on many factors, such as the size, the type of solar panels, how many solar panels you need, and the solar battery price. Solar panels and a battery in Scotland can cost between £9,000 and £20,000 together. If you want to know more about these batteries, read our solar batteries guide.

If you also want to get in on the low prices of solar panels in Scotland, you should always compare offers by contacting different installers. To help avoid hours of excessive time researching, you can use our service. You’ll receive up to 4 free solar panel quotes in the UK from trusted installers in your area. Start the process by clicking the button below and filling out our 30-second form.

In 2024, you will have different kinds of options for solar panel grants in Scotland. These include the Warmer Homes Scotland programme, the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan and the ECO4. For other types of rebates, there is the Smart Export Guarantee and the VAT Reduction on installing energy-efficient systems to 0%.

Home Energy Scotland

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan provides homeowners with funding through a mixture of a grant and an optional loan on top. This policy can be a great option for those who do not qualify for any of the means-tested options but still need cheap solar panels. The grant and loan amount to £6,000 total, with £1,250 as a grant and an optional £4,750 as a loan on top.

These grants and loans apply to people living in a home without mains gas heatings or have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G. Applicants must meet the low-income threshold (below £36,000) or live in the most economically deprived areas (IMD 1-3).

Warmer Homes Scotland

This programme offers funding and support to improve Scottish households that struggle with keeping on top of energy bills. The improvement that will be offered depends on a survey of your home, assessors will recommend improvements, these include heating and a range of insulation as well as renewable energy and heating technologies.

Through this grant, you can obtain full or partial payment for home heating as well as renewable technologies like solar panels. To be eligible for Warmer Homes Scotland you must meet the qualifying criteria, which includes:

If you are not eligible for Warmer Homes Scotland you might qualify for the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan. For this, you will need to contact Home Energy Scotland and they will assess whether you qualify for funding.

You will need a solar panel quote from the installer when submitting an application.

ECO4

For solar panel grants in Scotland, there is also the option of the ECO4 scheme. This scheme gives low-income households the opportunity to replace inefficient heating systems. This includes the installation of solar panels.

To be eligible for solar panels through the ECO4 scheme you must meet certain criteria, including:

VAT Reduction

In Scotland, you can also benefit from VAT reductions on the installation of energy-efficient systems. In 2023 and until 2027 the VAT on solar panels has been totally scrapped, resulting in savings of up to £1,850 for 2 - 3 bedroom houses.

Smart Export Guarantee

After installing your solar panels in Scotland, you can benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). With the SEG, energy companies will offer you export tariffs on surplus energy from your solar panels that you export to the National Grid. This can range from 0.5p to 23p/kWh depending on your energy contract.

Even with 5.5p/kWh SEG savings (the number many companies provide), you can earn back £480 £1,060 per year with excess energy. This depends on how much excess electricity you can generate in your area above your energy consumption.

When it comes to grants and incentives, it’s best to have a local installer help you navigate them. Finding the best deals from reliable installers can take days of research, and you still might come up empty-handed. Thankfully, our service can help you out in this department.

We work with a broad network of reputable solar panel installers that we can put you in touch with. Just fill in our contact form in 30 seconds, sit back, and relax while we have up to 4 solar panel installers provide you with the best prices. You can then easily determine which installers suit your needs. Click below to get started.

As with solar panels in Wales, Ireland, and the rest of the UK, there is generally no need for planning permission when you install a solar panel system in Scotland, as long as they’re below a certain size. For the specific size, you should consult your local planning officer.

If your home is a listed building, in a conservation area or a World Heritage Site, then you should also consult your local planning officer, there might be some extra precautions you need to take. In Scotland, solar panels can be installed in most places but it is still best to check the local regulations you might face for your area.

To make sure that you can get the solar system you want while keeping in line with solar panel size permissions, you will want to consult a local solar panel installer who can offer you tailored advice.

If you’re ready to start using solar power in Scotland, you have a lot of options in terms of installers. However, finding a good solar panel installer in Scotland can be time-consuming and difficult. There are national companies, regional companies, and local installers to pick and choose from and they’ll all have different rates, benefits, and drawbacks.

That’s why it’s so important to get multiple prices so you can properly assess which offer is the best. Instead of spending hours on end trying to find installers, collect quotes, and then tediously compare the prices you receive, complete our simple form and we will match you with up to 4 licensed installers operating in your area.

You can easily gain access to the best offers with no effort on your part. This will save you time and energy while ensuring you’re receiving the best service. Just click below to request free, no-obligation quotes today!