Solar installers in Edinburgh.

Sun figures from PVGIS; roof estimates include solar data from Google. How we measure.

Local context

Solar in Edinburgh: quick guide.

Edinburgh is one of the more complicated places in the UK to fit solar — not because of the weather, but because of the buildings. Much of the city is a World Heritage Site with a huge conservation area, listed Georgian and Victorian stock, and shared tenement roofs. Solar still works this far north; most of the effort here is about consent and shared ownership, not sunshine.

A few Edinburgh-specific things worth knowing:

• World Heritage and conservation. The Old and New Towns are protected; panels visible from the street often need planning permission, and listed buildings need listed-building consent.
• Tenement roofs are shared. Flats in a tenement usually share the roof, so an install needs agreement between owners as well as the right survey — a genuine extra step here.
• Scottish planning rules. Scotland's system differs from England's; permitted-development conditions and heritage rules are not the same. A local installer will know the City of Edinburgh Council's line.
• Long northern summer days. Edinburgh's high latitude means short winter days but long summer ones — the yearly total still adds up on a good roof.
• Battery storage. With time-of-use tariffs spreading, it's worth running the numbers through the savings calculator.

Grants & support

What help is available in Edinburgh?

Solar and battery installations across the UK are currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 — a straight saving on the installed price for every household, with no application needed. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland is the government-backed service for home-energy advice and funding. What it covers for solar shifts over time — and it is not a straightforward "solar grant" for owner-occupiers — so it is worth checking the current position rather than assuming.

Eligibility for grant schemes depends on your income, home and circumstances, and the schemes change. We keep the current picture on one page rather than guess what you'll qualify for.