Solar panels are the starting point for most East Lothian homeowners looking to cut grid reliance. A well-sized roof-mounted PV system on a south, east or west-facing roof can generate a meaningful share of a typical household's annual electricity, with surplus exported to the grid or stored in a battery.
Is East Lothian a good area for solar?
At about 56°N on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, East Lothian has a seasonal solar year with long summer days. Open coastal and farmland exposure means little shading, though coastal sites need wind- and salt-rated fixings. In practice, that means long bright summer days with generation peaking from April to September, and useful output through spring and autumn. Open farmland and coastal exposure across the county means many roofs have little or no shading — a key factor in solar performance.
Roof type matters less than people think. Historic stone-built market towns and coastal villages such as Haddington, Dunbar and North Berwick, alongside former mining towns like Tranent and Prestonpans with large ex-council estates. Rapid recent growth has added many new private estates, while the countryside holds farmhouses and farm steadings. Whether your home is a stone-built cottage in Haddington, an ex-council property in Tranent, a new build in Musselburgh or a coastal house in North Berwick, our MCS-certified partners assess orientation, pitch, shading and structural capacity before recommending a system.
What does a solar panel installation include?
Every installation we arrange is tailored, but a typical residential solar PV system includes:
- Solar panels sized to your roof and your annual electricity use.
- An inverter (string, hybrid or microinverter depending on shading and battery plans).
- Generation meter and electrical connection into your consumer unit.
- Scaffolding and all roof work, carried out by experienced MCS-certified installers.
- Commissioning, handover and MCS paperwork for your records.
Planning permission for solar in East Lothian
Solar on most homes is permitted development in Scotland; listed buildings and conservation areas need consent — check with East Lothian Council. Most domestic roof-mounted solar in Scotland falls under permitted development, meaning you do not usually need a full planning application — provided panels sit close to the roofline and the property is not listed or in a conservation area. For listed buildings and conservation areas, contact East Lothian Council for consent advice before proceeding.
Add a battery later or go solar-plus-battery now
Many East Lothian homeowners start with solar panels and add a battery later. Others go straight to a solar and battery package to maximise self-consumption from day one. Either route is fine — we design your inverter setup with future battery compatibility in mind where possible.
If you already have solar and want to add storage, see our battery storage page. For EV drivers, we also arrange EV chargers that can charge from your solar generation.
Ready to see what solar could do for your East Lothian home? Use the quote form on this page or call 0141 230 0198.
Last updated: 20 October 2026