A south-facing roof in Edinburgh generates about 915 kWh per kWp a year on the EU's PVGIS model, more than Glasgow or Manchester, and every unit you use saves 26.11p at the Southern Scotland price cap rate. A typical 4.5kWp system would make about 4,118 kWh a year.
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Get a Solar Quote →How much electricity solar panels make in Edinburgh
A south-facing 1kWp system at 35 degrees in central Edinburgh generates about 915 kWh a year, according to the EU's PVGIS model. That ranks 18 of the 20 areas we cover, which run from 850 kWh in Glasgow to 1,119 kWh in Dorset. East and west roofs still work, at roughly a fifth less.
| Roof direction (35° pitch) | Per kWp a year | June | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| South-facing | 915 kWh | 110 kWh | 22 kWh |
| East-facing | 713 kWh | 101 kWh | 8 kWh |
| West-facing | 709 kWh | 104 kWh | 8 kWh |
PVGIS is a modelled figure for an unshaded roof with 14% system losses, and it runs higher than the MCS method installers must use for your written estimate, which gives roughly 800 to 950 kWh per kWp for a well-oriented UK roof. Use PVGIS to compare places and the installer's MCS estimate to plan your budget. Our guides to which direction panels should face and how much electricity solar panels produce go further.
What that electricity is worth in Edinburgh
Every unit you use yourself saves 26.11p, the Ofgem price cap rate for direct debit customers in the Southern Scotland region from 1 October to 31 December 2026. The Great Britain average is 26.32p. Every unit you export earns whatever your Smart Export Guarantee tariff pays, which the Energy Saving Trust puts at around 12p typically.
Take the Energy Saving Trust's typical 4.5kWp home system. On the PVGIS figure for Edinburgh it would generate about 4,118 kWh a year. If you used all of it, that would be worth about £1,075. If you exported all of it, about £494. Real homes sit between the two, and a battery or daytime use pushes you towards the higher figure. The Energy Saving Trust prices that typical system at around £7,600. See our solar panel cost guide and current export rates.
The Old and New Towns: planning permission needed
Scotland's permitted development rights for solar on homes do not apply in a World Heritage Site, so solar on a home in Edinburgh's Old or New Town needs a planning application. Edinburgh has two World Heritage Sites, the Old and New Towns and the Forth Bridge.
The council's September 2025 guidance on listed buildings and conservation areas goes further. It says solar panels will not normally be permitted on any elevation visible from public views, and that the main south-facing roof slopes of traditional buildings may therefore be unsuitable. In the World Heritage Site, key viewpoints and aerial views are assessed too. If you live in the centre, look at hidden roof valleys and rear slopes first, and ask installers whether they have taken an application through Edinburgh's planning department before. Our guide to solar panels on a listed building covers the consent process.
Conservation areas and the rest of the city
Edinburgh has 50 conservation areas, and in each of them rooftop solar on the principal elevation, or a side elevation facing a road, needs planning permission. Elsewhere in Scotland, solar on a home is permitted development as long as no part sticks out more than 1m, and that includes flats and buildings containing flats. The council's householder guidance encourages solar panels in general but says they are typically not acceptable on conspicuous elevations of traditional buildings.
Away from the historic core the picture is very different. On the government's domestic figures for August 2026, Edinburgh West has 2,022 solar installations against 461 in Edinburgh North and Leith, where tenements dominate. Our guide to permitted development for solar panels compares the four nations.
How much solar Edinburgh has
The government counted 10,985 solar installations in Edinburgh at the end of 2025, up from 9,611 a year earlier, about 44 per 1,000 households by our count. That is ahead of Glasgow but below the UK average of about 69, and the government warns its 2025 council figures undercount. Across Scotland, installations grew 14% in the 12 months to the government's August 2026 regional breakdown.
Edinburgh is also becoming a city of flats: Scotland's Census 2022 recorded 9,600 more Edinburgh households in tenements or purpose-built flats than in 2011. If your roof is shared, you will need the other owners' agreement before any installer can quote.
Funding and your network operator
Home Energy Scotland's Grant and Loan does not fund standalone solar panels. It lists hybrid solar PV-T only, with an interest-free loan of up to £5,000 and no grant, while heat pumps get up to £7,500 grant plus an optional £7,500 loan. See our guide to solar panel grants in the UK.
Edinburgh's network is run by SP Energy Networks. For a typical home system up to 3.68kW it must be told no later than commissioning, with the G98 form arriving within 30 days. See our G98 and G99 guide, and compare with solar panels in Glasgow or solar panels in London.
Getting solar quotes in Edinburgh
Get at least three written quotes from MCS-certified installers, each with a performance estimate for your roof and a full breakdown of what is supplied. That is the Renewable Energy Consumer Code's advice. Never pay more than 25% up front, and walk away from anyone offering a discount to sign on the day. Our guide to choosing a solar installer covers what to check.
Tell us about your home once and get quotes from MCS-certified installers covering Edinburgh.
Get a Solar Quote →Solar panels in Edinburgh: frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Edinburgh?
In the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site, yes, because Scotland's permitted development rights for solar on homes do not apply there. In Edinburgh's 50 conservation areas you need permission for panels on the principal elevation or a road-facing side, and listed buildings always need consent. Elsewhere rooftop solar is usually permitted development.
Can I put solar panels on my roof in the New Town?
Possibly, but you need a planning application, and Edinburgh's September 2025 guidance says panels will not normally be permitted on any elevation visible from public views, so the main south-facing slopes of traditional buildings may be unsuitable. Hidden roof valleys and rear slopes are the usual options.
Are solar panels worth it in Edinburgh?
For a house or block with a suitable roof, usually yes. Edinburgh generates about 915 kWh per kWp a year on the PVGIS model, more than Glasgow or Manchester, and every unit you use saves 26.11p at the Southern Scotland price cap rate for October to December 2026.
Is there a grant for solar panels in Edinburgh?
Not through Home Energy Scotland for standard solar panels. Its Grant and Loan funds hybrid solar PV-T only, with an interest-free loan of up to £5,000 and no grant.
Who is the network operator for solar in Edinburgh?
SP Energy Networks. For a typical home system it must be told no later than commissioning, with the G98 form arriving within 30 days.
Sources for this page
Local sources checked on 10 October 2026. Solar yields: PVGIS 5.2, EU Joint Research Centre, modelled 10 October 2026. Electricity prices: Ofgem price cap by region. System cost and export rate: Energy Saving Trust. Local sources:
- City of Edinburgh Council: listed buildings and conservation areas guidance (September 2025)
- City of Edinburgh Council: guidance for householders (September 2025)
- City of Edinburgh Council: conservation areas
- Scottish Government: Circular 1/2024 householder permitted development rights
- Scotland's Census 2022: housing
- DESNZ: Renewable electricity by local authority, 2014 to 2025
- DESNZ: Solar photovoltaics deployment (September 2026)
- Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
- SP Energy Networks: single G98 generator connections