Key facts
| Council area | West Lothian |
| Population | 22,222 (Bathgate locality, Scotland's Census 2022 (NRS figure as quoted by City Population)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Whitehill Industrial Estate (Inchmuir Park); Inchwood Park |
| Indicative yield | About 881 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Bathgate
- Whitehill Industrial Estate (Inchmuir Park): One of West Lothian's most established business locations. At its entrance J. Smart and Co. began building Inchmuir Park in January 2025, 58,628 sq ft of industrial and trade units from 3,231 sq ft with solar panels and EV charging, for occupation in early 2026.
- Inchwood Park: Multi-let industrial estate of 19 units across five terraces, owned by Ribston, which was fully let in April 2023 with occupiers including Screwfix, Toolstation, Howdens, Paint Shed, Rexel and Nikon.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Grocery distribution (Aldi): Aldi runs its Bathgate Regional Distribution Centre in the town and said in December 2024 it would recruit over 100 new logistics staff there in 2025.
- Electronics design and manufacturing (Plexus): Plexus lists a design centre, manufacturing and sourcing site at Pyramids Business Park, Easter Inch, Bathgate.
Large, simple roofs on distribution sheds and modern industrial units are usually the quickest and cheapest to fit. Older mill, factory and workshop buildings can work well too, but often need a structural survey first, and roofs from before 2000 may contain asbestos cement: see asbestos roofs.
Grid connection
Bathgate is served by SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland). Almost every commercial system needs G99 approval from the network operator before it is switched on, and the question is usually how much the local network can take back. Where export is limited, a G100 export limitation scheme can let a larger array connect. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Bathgate
Planning in Bathgate is decided by West Lothian council under Scotland's own system. Non-domestic rooftop solar is often permitted development under the Scottish rules, but not on listed buildings, in National Scenic Areas or within 3 km of an aerodrome.
Points that come up locally:
- Scotland's June 2024 permitted development changes removed the 50kW cap for rooftop solar on non-domestic buildings and allow flat roof systems up to 1m above the roof; listed buildings and World Heritage Sites are the exceptions, and in conservation areas panels can be permitted development only if they are not on primary elevations or facing roads.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bathgate could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 881 kWh per kWp a year.
| Item | Illustrative figure |
|---|---|
| System | 100 kWp, south facing at 30 degrees |
| Installed cost | £900 per kWp, so £90,000 excluding VAT |
| Generation | About 88,100 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,801 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,322 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,122 |
| Simple payback | About 5.6 years before tax relief |
Illustrative, not a quote: the same sums as our commercial solar calculator. A company paying corporation tax can usually shorten the payback with capital allowances.
Funding and support
- Business Energy Scotland SME Loan: Interest-free loans of £1,000 to £130,000. Cashback of 75% of eligible costs, up to £20,000 for energy efficiency measures and up to £10,000 for heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal, with a maximum of £30,000 per business. Applications are processed on a rolling basis all year round, subject to loan funds. The page says the scheme is not accepting new applications for solar PV projects. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Scotland.
Solar across West Lothian
At the end of 2025, West Lothian had 8,601 solar PV installations with 25.6 MW of capacity, up 204% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Lothian page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Livingston, about 5 miles away
- Falkirk, about 9 miles away
- Grangemouth, about 9 miles away
- Dunfermline, about 14 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000060 bathgate
- en.wikipedia.org: Bathgate
- agcc.co.uk: ryden launches new high quality industrial development
- scottishfinancialnews.com: inchwood park in bathgate achieves full occupancy after
- retailgazette.co.uk: aldi scotland 40m investment
- plexus.com: livingston
- gov.uk: maps of forth green freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: maps of inverness and cromarty firth green freeport
- gov.uk: maps of glasgow city region investment zone tax
- gov.uk: maps of north east scotland investment zone tax
- solarpowerportal.co.uk: scotland removes planning permission requirement for rooftop solar
- businessenergyscotland.org: sme loan
- Yield: PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), SARAH3 data, 14% system losses, for the town centre, modelled 4 November 2026.
- Council area figures: DESNZ, renewable electricity by local authority 2014 to 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the electricity network operator in Bathgate?
SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland). Most commercial solar systems need its G99 approval before they are switched on. The operator follows the postcode, so confirm yours with the Energy Networks Association postcode tool.
How much would a 100 kWp solar system generate in Bathgate?
About 88,100 kWh a year for a south-facing roof at 30 degrees, modelled with PVGIS for the town centre. At 70% used on site at 24p and the rest exported at 5p, that is worth about £16,122 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bathgate get a free solar survey?
Yes. Answer six short questions and we match the site with one MCS certified installer, who surveys it on site or by video call. It is free, with no obligation. Get a free survey.
Related pages
- West Lothian8,601 installations, 25.6 MW of solar and about 854 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- ScotlandSP Energy Networks and SSEN connections, NPF4 and Scottish permitted development, the four city low emission zones, the Scottish rates exemption and realistic yields.
- Commercial solar calculatorEstimate commercial solar savings and payback, with the generation, price and cost assumptions shown and sourced, and the limits of a simple estimate explained.
- ScotlandCurrent solar support in Scotland for businesses, community groups, public bodies, schools and farms, with rates, planning and official contacts.
- Planning permissionPermitted development for commercial rooftop solar and car park canopies in England, prior approval, heritage limits, ground-mounted schemes and the other UK nations.