Solar panels in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a popular area for domestic solar, but it requires more care around planning than most Scottish cities. The city's architecture is protected by one of the largest conservation area networks in the country, and the Edinburgh Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The good news is that many Edinburgh homes still take solar under permitted development — you just need to check first.

Roof types across Edinburgh

• Stone-built Victorian villas and terraces — Morningside, Merchiston, the Grange, Bruntsfield. Slate roofs, steep pitches, often with chimney stacks and dormers. Shading from chimneys is common; optimisers or micro-inverters can help.
• New Town and Georgian tenements — Princes Street, George Street, Stockbridge, the West End. Shared slate roofs with very strict planning constraints. Panel installation on a visible roof slope in the World Heritage Site is unlikely to be permitted; a non-visible rear slope may be possible but requires checking.
• Inter-war semis and modern housing — Corstorphine, Currie, Balerno, Liberton, Gilmerton, Craigmillar. Concrete tile and slate roofs, good access, often straightforward solar installations.
• Modern developments — around the city bypass and into Midlothian, including new build estates with roofs designed to modern standards.
• Portobello and coastal areas — sea-facing roofs with good light, but check wind exposure and salt air with your surveyor.

Planning and conservation areas in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has more conservation areas than any other Scottish city, and the World Heritage Site covers the Old and New Towns. If your home is in a conservation area, panels on a roof slope visible from a public road may need planning permission. Panels on a non-visible slope may still qualify for permitted development, but you must check with City of Edinburgh Council first. Listed buildings need listed building consent. If you live in a flat, different permitted development rules apply. See our planning permission guide for the general framework, and always confirm your specific address.

Shading in Edinburgh

Edinburgh's chimney stacks, dormers, spires and tall neighbouring buildings all cast shadows. In the denser inner-city areas, adjacent ridgelines can shade lower roof slopes, particularly in winter when the sun is low. The mature trees in areas like the Grange and Inverleith add seasonal shading. A surveyor uses a shading tool to map the sun's path across your exact roof and designs the system around any shading, using optimisers or micro-inverters where needed.

The DNO connection in Edinburgh

Edinburgh's electricity distribution network is operated by SP Energy Networks. For a standard domestic system up to 3.68kW per phase, your installer notifies SP Energy Networks after installation under the connect-and-notify process. Larger systems need prior DNO approval. Your installer handles the paperwork.

0% VAT and finance

Until 31 March 2027, domestic solar panels and battery storage benefit from 0% VAT, including a standalone battery added to an existing system. Loans available, subject to status — ask your surveyor for details.

Battery storage in Edinburgh

For Edinburgh's stone-built villas with cellars, utility rooms or garages, there is usually space for a wall-mounted battery. A battery lets you store daytime generation for evening use and charge on cheap overnight tariffs. For tenement flats, a battery is often not practical. See our battery storage guide.

Arrange an Edinburgh solar survey

If you own a home in Edinburgh and want a no-obligation quote, fill in the form below. We arrange a survey through our MCS-certified partner, who checks your roof, takes a shading reading and advises on planning considerations before issuing a written quote. We cover all Edinburgh postcodes from EH1 to EH30. No pressure to proceed.