Homeowners installing solar panels will pay 0% VAT until April 2027, as set out in the UK Government’s Spring Statement 2022.

Don’t worry, even on a gloomy day, solar panels can transform daylight into electricity for your home. Every home is different, but we’ll carry out a full assessment of your house and will provide an estimate of how much solar power you could generate as part of your quote.

Yes. Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not just direct sunshine, which means they can work effectively throughout the UK, including Scotland.

When installed correctly by accredited professionals, solar panels should not damage your roof. Installers assess your roof before installation and use mounting systems designed to secure panels safely. We’ll always check the suitability of your roof during the pre-install survey.

Unlike a boiler, your solar panels should work efficiently without a yearly service. You shouldn’t need to pay extra costs for maintenance packages to keep them running well. In fact, you don’t usually even need to clean your solar panels – we get enough rain in the UK to do that for you.

The typical lifespan for a solar panel installation is 25 to 30 years. As part of our standard installation package, you’ll get a 24 month installer warranty, 25 year manufacturer warranty on solar panels, a 10 year inverter warranty (the inverter converts the electricity you generate into electricity you can use), and a 30 year performance warranty too, which guarantees a minimum generation performance each year. Terms and conditions apply for each warranty.

Payback time varies depending on your system size, energy use, wholesale electricity prices, and whether you add a battery. Many homeowners can offset costs gradually through bill savings and by earning payments for any excess electricity exported to the grid.

You’ll generate more of your own electricity with more panels, but this needs to be considered against the increased installation cost. Our survey process will help find the best balance for you.

You can work out how much you could save with solar panels using the Energy Saving Trust’s calculator.

We recommend checking with your local planning office, but generally solar panel installs are classed as ‘permitted developments’, which means you’re allowed to add them to your home without planning permission. If you live in a conservation or historic area, then you will need approval.

Some other factors that impact the solar panel install are:

Unfortunately, we’re unable to install solar panels for flats/apartments. We can only install solar panels on homes where the purchaser owns the freehold to the roof.

You’ll receive a personalised proposal based on your home, including recommended solar panel and battery options, estimated costs, potential savings, and system design recommendations. It’s free to get a solar proposal, and there’s no obligation to buy.

Your solar system is installed by ScottishPower’s MCS and TrustMark-certified installation partners, giving you confidence that the work meets recognised industry standards.

To access a ScottishPower Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, you’ll need an eligible renewable energy system, such as solar panels, and a meter capable of recording exported electricity. ScottishPower offers several SEG tariffs, with enhanced rates available to ScottishPower electricity customers and customers who purchase solar through ScottishPower.

Our Solar Saver tariff is designed for customers who have a Solar PV system supplying electricity to their home. It provides cheaper rates for using electricity during off-peak hours (between 7pm and 9am)⁶.  That’s 14 hours you could get lower prices than our Standard Variable tariff.

You need to be a ScottishPower energy customer to be eligible for the Solar Saver tariff. Not a customer yet? Join us on our Standard Variable tariff and move to the Solar Saver tariff at no extra cost through your online account.  Our tariff is designed for ScottishPower customers who have a Solar PV – of any make or model – and the energy you use in the discount period includes all household usage . You must have a single rate communicating smart meter that sends half-hourly readings and pay by monthly Direct Debit.

If you’re a business and would like to know more about the solar solutions we offer, email us at smart.solutions.sales@scottishpower.com

Solar panels can be used to help power air source heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers and solar hot water systems, but it’s always worth checking the specific make and model of those technologies in detail to confirm this before installing them.

DC or Direct Current: This is the type of electricity generated by your solar panels. Most homes use Alternating Current (AC), so the Direct Current electricity is converted.

Inverter: Every solar panel system uses an inverter to convert DC energy into AC energy so it can be used to power your home.

kWh or kilowatt-hour: A kWh is a way of measuring energy use. It stands for kilowatt hour. One kWh is the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour.

Pitch: This is the angle of your roof. The best angle for solar panels can vary depending on where in the UK you live – we’ll advise on the best angle for your panels when you get a quote from us.

Export: This is when you send the excess electricity generated by your solar panel system back to the grid. Apply for the Smart Export Guarantee scheme to get paid for your exported energy.