Key facts
| Council area | Perth and Kinross |
| Population | 9,433 (Blairgowrie (including Rattray) locality, Scotland's Census 2022 (NRS figure as published by City Population)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of Scotland licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Welton Road |
| Indicative yield | About 905 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Blairgowrie
- Welton Road: Blairgowrie's main industrial estate, built partly on the old railway yards and home to many small businesses; Perth and Kinross Council's 2025 Employment Land Audit also lists about 13.2 hectares of undeveloped greenfield employment land at Welton Road (local plan site E31).
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Business water retail (Castle Water): Castle Water, formed in 2014 and now describing itself as the UK's largest independent business water retailer with over 250,000 customers and over 450 staff, has its registered office at Boat Brae, Rattray.
- Construction products (A. Proctor Group): The A. Proctor Group, which makes membranes, airtightness, thermal and acoustic products, has its head office at The Haugh in Blairgowrie and runs manufacturing, storage and R&D from a 4.5 acre industrial site in the town.
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
Blairgowrie is served by SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of Scotland licence area). 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 Blairgowrie
Planning in Blairgowrie is decided by Perth and Kinross 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:
- The Blairgowrie Conservation Area covers about 44.3 hectares, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels in the centre.
- Since 24 May 2024, Scotland's Class 6J lets solar PV go on non-domestic buildings without planning permission if it protrudes no more than 1 metre, but not on a listed building or within its curtilage, within 3 km of an aerodrome or technical site, or, in a conservation area, on the principal elevation or a side elevation fronting a road.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, airports, glint and glare explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Blairgowrie could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 905 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 90,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,204 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,358 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,562 |
| Simple payback | About 5.4 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 the overall availability of 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 Perth and Kinross
At the end of 2025, Perth and Kinross had 9,130 solar PV installations with 52.7 MW of capacity, up 90% since 2020, according to government figures. The Perth and Kinross page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Perth, about 14 miles away
- Forfar, about 17 miles away
- Cupar, about 22 miles away
- Glenrothes, about 28 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000075 blairgowrie
- en.wikipedia.org: Blairgowrie and Rattray
- castlewater.co.uk: about us
- proctorgroup.com: about us
- proctorgroup.com: contact us
- heritagecheck.co.uk: blairgowrie
- legislation.gov.uk: made
- 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 Blairgowrie?
SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of Scotland licence area). 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 Blairgowrie?
About 90,500 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 £16,562 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Blairgowrie 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
- Perth and Kinross9,130 installations, 52.7 MW of solar and about 820 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.