Solar
Panels

Can I store the electricity generated from a solar panel for use later?

Yes, if you use solar battery storage. This gives you the ability to store electricity to use in your home when you really need it. For example, you could store electricity generated via your solar panels during the day to use at night.

Is my home in a suitable location for solar panels?

All the modules that make up a solar panel are connected, so any shading on a single module will affect the performance of the whole array. A solar system can tolerate some shading early or late in the day without much reduction of overall output but it should not be shaded between 10am and 4pm. Nearby trees, chimneys, TV aerials, and vent pipes are all common causes of shading and should be accounted for before any installation.

Your roof should ideally face due south at a pitched angle of around 30° from the horizontal to give the best overall annual performance. Installations at any pitch and facing anywhere to the south of due east and due west are feasible, although output and income will be reduced. Installation is not recommended on roofs facing north.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels?

In Scotland, you don’t need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as they’re below a certain size. However, you should check with your local planning officer, especially if your home is a listed building, or in a conservation area or World Heritage Site.

Solar panels are permitted unless:

• Panels are installed on any part of the external walls of the building if the building contains a flat.
• Panels when installed on a flat roof are situated within 1 metre from the edge of the roof or protrude more than 1 metre above the plane of the roof
• Panels when installed project higher than the highest point of the roof (excluding the chimney)
• The building is within a conservation area or World Heritage Site and the solar PV or solar thermal equipment is installed on a roof which forms the front of the building and is visible form the road

Can I get a grant to install solar panels?

The Scottish government has a number of grants and incentives for renewable energy. They include a renewables loan of up to £17,500 and an energy storage loan of up to £6000.

For more information, see the Scottish Government Renewable and low carbon energy page.

How do Solar PV Systems work?

Solar Photovoltaic systems (solar panels) use energy from the sun to create electricity used to run household appliances and lighting. When sunlight shines on a Photovoltaic (PV) panel, an electric field is created across the cell resulting in the flow of electricity.

What are the advantages of solar electricity?

• Reduced electric bill
• Insurance against rising energy costs
• Low maintenance
• Silent – no noise pollution
• Cheaper power source
• Return on investment
• Environmentally friendly
• Energy independence