Key facts
| Council area | Angus |
| Population | 13,801 (Forfar 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 | Orchardbank Business Park; Carseview Road |
| Indicative yield | About 943 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Forfar
- Orchardbank Business Park: Developed by Angus Council and the Muir Group at the A94 Glamis Road junction of the A90, with occupiers including Angus Council and Guide Dogs (Scottish head office and training centre). The council's 2024 employment land audit records 24.49 hectares, 11.58 still available.
- Carseview Road: A 4 hectare employment allocation in Forfar that the council's 2024 employment land audit lists as fully available but held back by ownership and access constraints.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Technical textiles (Don & Low): Don & Low, established in 1792 and part of the Thrace Group since 1999, is based at Glamis Road, Forfar, makes over 400 woven and nonwoven technical textile products and employs over 450 people.
- Public administration (Angus Council): Forfar is the administrative centre of Angus, and Angus Council is among the occupiers of Orchardbank Business Park.
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
Forfar 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 Forfar
Planning in Forfar is decided by Angus 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:
- Forfar's town centre is in the Forfar Conservation Area, where the council must pay special attention to preserving its character; Angus has 19 conservation areas and six Article 4 Directions, so check before fitting panels on roofs facing the street.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Forfar could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 943 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 94,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,842 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,415 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,257 |
| Simple payback | About 5.2 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 Angus
At the end of 2025, Angus had 6,026 solar PV installations with 62.2 MW of capacity, up 42% since 2020, according to government figures. The Angus page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Arbroath, about 13 miles away
- Montrose, about 17 miles away
- Blairgowrie, about 17 miles away
- Cupar, about 23 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000256 forfar
- en.wikipedia.org: Forfar
- propertysearch.investinangus.com
- angus.gov.uk: Angus Employment Land Audit 2024
- donlow.co.uk: who we are
- gov.uk: maps of north east scotland investment zone tax
- gov.uk: maps of forth green freeport tax sites
- angus.gov.uk: 9 9CastleSt Forfar
- data.spatialhub.scot: conservation areas an
- 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 Forfar?
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 Forfar?
About 94,300 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 £17,257 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Forfar 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
- Angus6,026 installations, 62.2 MW of solar and about 917 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.