Commercial solar

Commercial solar panels for Edinburgh and Lothians businesses

Your roof is probably the cheapest place you'll find to make electricity. Whether solar pays for your business depends on three things: how much power you use in daylight hours, what shape the roof and the electrics are in, and what the local grid will let you connect. Pentland Renewables looks at all three before anyone talks about panels.

We work with small commercial sites across Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian: offices, workshops, trade counters, small industrial units, hospitality and community buildings.

Book a commercial solar survey

Who commercial solar suits

Solar works hardest where electricity is used during the day. Good fits include:

Workshops and light industrial units running machinery, compressors or chillers in working hours
Offices and studios with daytime IT, lighting and heating or cooling loads
Shops, cafés and trade counters open through the daylight hours
Sites with EV fleet charging that can move charging into the middle of the day
Buildings already planning a heat pump, where solar can offset some of the new electrical load

If most of your use is in the evening or overnight, solar alone may not stack up. A battery, or a different plan, might.

How we size a commercial system

We don't size a system to fill the roof. We size it to your consumption.

1. Your bills and meter data. If your site has a half-hourly meter, your supplier can give you a year of usage data. If not, twelve months of bills are a start.
2. Roof survey. Orientation, pitch, shading, roof covering and condition. If the roof needs work in the next ten years, it's better to do it before the panels go on.
3. Structure. Commercial roofs, especially older profiled-sheet roofs, may need a structural engineer to check the extra load and fixings.
4. Electrical capacity. Your board, your incoming supply, and where the inverter and isolators can safely go.
5. Grid connection. Most commercial systems need an application to SP Energy Networks under the G99 process before they connect. We explain what that means for your timescale. See our guide to G98 and G99 connections.
6. A written proposal. System size, expected generation with the assumptions shown, equipment, and what is and isn't included.

We will not quote you a payback figure we can't show our working for. Generation and savings depend on the final design, your tariff and how your building runs.

What a commercial installation includes

Scope varies by site, but a typical proposal covers:

Panels, mounting system and roof fixings suited to your roof type
Inverter(s), isolation and metering
Battery storage, where the numbers support it
DNO application and liaison
Scaffolding or edge protection and access plan
Testing, commissioning and handover documents
Export registration paperwork, where you're eligible

Planning and permissions

Many commercial rooftop systems fall within permitted development in Scotland, but not all. Listed buildings, conservation areas and some ground-mounted arrays need more checks, and the City of Edinburgh Council has a lot of conservation area. We check before we design, not after.

Farm and rural buildings are on farm solar. Rooftop systems are on commercial rooftop solar. The seven checks are in is commercial solar worth it in Scotland.

Funding and tax

Home Energy Scotland's grant and loan is for homeowners, so it won't cover a business roof. Funding options for businesses change, and some depend on your tax position, so speak to your accountant about how solar equipment is treated in your accounts. We'll give you the equipment breakdown they'll need.

Guide price: [PRICE: Iain to confirm]. Every commercial system is priced after a survey.

Why Pentland Renewables

Local. We cover Edinburgh and the Lothians, so the person who surveys your site understands local roofs, local planning and the local grid.
Straight numbers. You see the assumptions behind every figure.
One point of contact. From survey to handover.
Solar, batteries, heat pumps and EV charging. If your plans include more than panels, we can scope them together.

Commercial solar FAQs

Is commercial solar worth it for a small business in Edinburgh?

It can be, if a good share of your electricity is used in daylight hours and your roof is suitable. The survey and your usage data tell us whether it stacks up. If it doesn't, we'll say so.

How long does a commercial solar installation take?

The fitting itself is often days rather than weeks for a small system. The longer part is usually the grid application to SP Energy Networks and any structural or planning checks. We give you a timeline once those are known.

Do I need planning permission for solar panels on my business roof?

Often not, as many rooftop systems are permitted development in Scotland. Listed buildings, conservation areas and larger or ground-mounted systems may need consent. We check this for your site.

Can I get paid for the electricity I export?

Possibly. Businesses can be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee, depending on the system size and certification. Rates are set by each energy supplier.

Can you add a battery?

Yes. A battery can store daytime surplus for use later. Whether it's worth it depends on your usage pattern, and we model it both ways.

Do you work on rented premises?

Yes, with your landlord's written consent. We can provide the information your landlord will usually ask for.

Book a commercial solar survey

Send us your address, roughly what your site does and a recent electricity bill. We'll arrange a survey and send you a written proposal.

Book a commercial solar survey