SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels for Scottish homes
A standard 12-panel system with hybrid inverter, with installation and bird proofing included. Priced at survey.
- Installed through our MCS-certified partners
- Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status
- Local Scottish office in Dundee
Quick answer
Solar panels work well on Scottish homes because they generate from daylight, not heat, so they still produce on bright overcast days. Every system is sized for your roof after a survey and set out on a written, no-obligation quote. We install through MCS-certified partners. Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status. Call 0141 230 0198.
Last updated: 17 October 2026
What does solar cost in Scotland?
A standard domestic system — 12 x 500W panels with a hybrid inverter — is priced at survey, because roof type, access and panel choice vary from home to home. Installation and bird proofing are included. Your survey gives your exact figure, confirmed on your written, no-obligation quote.
Source: Checked October 2026
What is included
- AIKO Comet 500W black-on-black (standard). JA Solar 460W as occasional alternative.
- Hanchu ESS hybrid inverter.
- Bird proofing included as standard on every install.
- DNO notification (G98/G99) handled for you
- Building warrant where required
- Commissioning and handover pack
- Warranty and guarantee terms are confirmed in writing on your quotation.
System sizes and pricing
| System | Price |
|---|---|
| 4kWp (8 panels) | Priced at survey |
| 6kWp (12 panels, standard) | Priced at survey |
| 6kWp + 5kWh battery | Priced at survey |
| 6kWp + 13.5kWh battery | Priced at survey |
Every system is priced at survey. What moves the price up: scaffolding on a tenement, a slate roof, a long cable run, or a listed-building consent requirement. Your survey gives your exact figure.
What you can expect to generate
How much a system generates depends on roof orientation, pitch, shading, location and weather. Your survey uses the MCS estimation method to work out expected generation for your roof. With a battery, more of that electricity is used in your home instead of being imported from the grid. Without a battery, more of the surplus is exported. Smart Export Guarantee payments, with rates set by each supplier.
Results vary by property, roof orientation, consumption and weather. Your written quote sets out the estimate for your home.
Scottish specifics
Yield per MCS MIS 3002
Scotland's solar yield is generally lower than southern England, and it varies between the Central Belt, the north-east and the Highlands. Your survey confirms the expected figure for your home. On a suitable time-of-use tariff, battery arbitrage (charging overnight and using that electricity at peak times) can add to what solar alone does.
DNO notification
Your installation requires G98 notification (under 3.68kW) or G99 application (over 3.68kW) to your Distribution Network Operator. In central and southern Scotland that is SP Energy Networks; in the Highlands and Islands it is SSEN. We handle this for you — see the full installation process for detail.
0% VAT
All solar panel and battery installations qualify for 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. Source: HMRC, checked October 2026.
Approved hardware
Panels: AIKO Comet 500W black-on-black (standard). JA Solar 460W as occasional alternative.
Inverter: Hanchu ESS hybrid inverter.
Battery: Hanchu LiFePO4 — 95% depth of discharge.
When solar panels are NOT worth it
Solar panels are a poor investment if any of these apply:
- x Your roof is north-facing with no alternative elevation. Output will be too low to justify the cost.
- x Your roof needs replacing in the next few years. Get the roof done first — removing and refitting panels costs money.
- x Heavy shading from tall buildings or mature trees covers a large part of the array area.
- x You plan to move within a few years. You may recover some value in the sale price, but not all.
Your survey confirms what suits your home — including whether solar makes sense at all.
Costs and finance
Costs and finance: the facts
- Every system is priced at survey and confirmed on your written, no-obligation quote.
- 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027.
- Interest-free credit of up to £30,000 is available, subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply.
- Smart Export Guarantee payments, with rates set by each supplier.
Checked October 2026.
What MCS actually means — and why it matters
MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It is the UK quality mark for renewable energy installations — solar, battery, heat pumps. An MCS-certified installer must follow defined standards for design, installation, and commissioning.
Why it matters to you: without an MCS certificate, you generally cannot receive Smart Export Guarantee payments for the electricity you send to the grid. The certificate is not optional — it is required.
Who carries out the installation
We install through MCS-certified partners.
The elephant in the room: the insulation scandal
The UK insulation industry saw widespread failures — cavity wall insulation fitted badly, by under-skilled workers, often subcontracted to uncertified people. Homeowners were left with damp, mould, and no recourse. It happened because there was no enforceable quality standard and no register of who actually did the work.
What protects you here: MCS certification means the installer is named, registered, and audited. Warranty and guarantee terms are confirmed in writing on your quotation.
Related guides
- Battery storage for Scottish homes — options, specs, and calculator
- Solar with vs without battery — side-by-side comparison for Scotland
- The Scottish Solar Index — how solar generation varies across Scotland
- Case studies — published only with verified details and the homeowner's permission
- About Scottish Energy Efficiency — who we are and how we work
Common questions
Yes. We arrange surveys and installations across Scotland through our MCS-certified installation partners. Enter your postcode on the quote form or call 0141 230 0198 and we will confirm coverage for your address.
Usually, yes. Most existing solar systems can take a battery, either through a hybrid inverter or a separate battery inverter. Our surveyor checks your current inverter, wiring and space, then sets out the options on your written quote.
Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status. Ask about spreading the cost when you request your quote, and the options will be set out clearly before you commit to anything.
Call 0141 230 0198 or fill in the quote form. We arrange a survey of your home, then send a written, no-obligation quote with the system, price and warranty terms confirmed in writing.
Related reading
See what your roof could do
Two minutes, no obligation. Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status.
- 1
Tell us about your home
Call us or use the quote form. It takes about two minutes.
- 2
Survey
We check your roof, shading, fuse board and electricity use.
- 3
Written quote
Equipment, price and terms in writing, with no obligation.
No-obligation survey
Get a clear, written quote for your home
We look at your roof and electricity use, then send a written quote showing the equipment, the price and the terms, so you can decide in your own time.
- Installed through our MCS-certified partners
- Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status
- Local Scottish office in Dundee