Areas Covered Across Scotland

• Glasgow
• Edinburgh
• Stirling
• Falkirk
• Livingston
• Paisley
• Motherwell

Much of the housing here is tenements, four-in-a-block flats and inter-war semis, alongside newer estates on the edges of towns. Shared roofs and conservation areas, such as parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow’s West End, can mean you need agreement from neighbours or planning consent. Mains gas is common, so heat pumps are often weighed against a new boiler. The network operator here is SP Energy Networks.

• Aberdeen
• Peterhead
• Inverurie
• Stonehaven
• Elgin
• Banff
• Huntly

Granite and stone-built houses are typical across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray, and many rural homes are off the gas grid and run on oil. Thick solid walls hold heat well once warm, but they need careful heat loss calculations for a heat pump. Farm buildings and outbuildings often offer large, unshaded roofs for solar. The network operator is SSEN.

• Dundee
• Perth
• St Andrews
• Kirkcaldy
• Dunfermline
• Arbroath
• Forfar

This area has a mix of Victorian sandstone villas, coastal fishing cottages and modern estates. The east coast is relatively dry and sunny by Scottish standards, which suits solar. Coastal homes need corrosion-resistant fixings and outdoor units chosen for salty air. Tayside is served by SSEN and Fife by SP Energy Networks.

• Inverness
• Fort William
• Aviemore
• Nairn
• Dingwall
• Thurso
• Ullapool

Many Highland homes are detached, rural and heated by oil, LPG or electric storage heaters, which makes the case for a heat pump strong. Exposure to wind and driving rain affects where outdoor units and panels can go. Longer travel distances need planning for both survey and installation. The network operator is SSEN, and some areas have grid capacity limits.

• Oban
• Helensburgh
• Dunoon
• Campbeltown
• Lochgilphead
• Rothesay

This is a wet, mild west-coast climate with many stone cottages, villas and properties reached only by ferry or long single-track roads. Mild winter temperatures suit air source heat pumps, while damp walls need attention before any insulation work. Peninsula and island jobs need extra scheduling. The network operator is SSEN.

• Dumfries
• Stranraer
• Ayr
• Kilmarnock
• Castle Douglas
• Newton Stewart

Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire combine farmhouses, steadings and market-town terraces. Many rural properties are off-gas, and farms often have space for ground-mounted solar or larger battery systems. The southerly position gives some of the better solar conditions in Scotland. The network operator is SP Energy Networks.

• Galashiels
• Hawick
• Peebles
• Kelso
• Jedburgh
• Melrose
• Duns

This is a largely rural area with stone-built town houses, former mill workers’ terraces and isolated farmhouses. Conservation areas cover several town centres, so front-facing roof panels may need consent. Off-gas homes on oil or LPG are common outside the towns. The network operator is SP Energy Networks.

• Orkney
• Shetland
• Lewis & Harris
• Skye
• Uist
• Islay
• Mull

Island homes face high winds, salt spray and, in places, tight grid capacity. Equipment needs to be rated for exposure and fixed securely. Ferry logistics affect the timing and cost of an installation. Heat pumps and batteries are popular where homes have relied on electric or oil heating. The network operator is SSEN.