Key facts
| Council area | Highland |
| Population | 48,248 (Inverness locality, Census 2022 (20 March 2022)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Longman Industrial Estate; Inverness Campus; Stoneyfield Business Park; Cradlehall Business Park |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (Inverness tax site) |
| Indicative yield | About 804 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Inverness
- Longman Industrial Estate: The city's long-established trade and industrial area by the harbour, off Longman Road and Longman Drive.
- Inverness Campus: A 215-acre site owned and run by Highlands and Islands Enterprise for life sciences, health, technology, renewables and advanced manufacturing. About 20 organisations and 1,250 people work or study there.
- Stoneyfield Business Park: Office park on the east side of the city, near Inverness Retail and Business Park and Inverness Campus.
- Cradlehall Business Park: Office park on the east of the city with easy access to the A9 and A96.
- Inverness Airport Business Park: Development land at Dalcross beside Inverness Airport, east of the city.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Healthcare: Raigmore Hospital (NHS Highland): NHS Highland's district general hospital, serving the population of the Highlands.
- Life sciences and technology at Inverness Campus: Life sciences, health and technology firms in Highlands and Islands Enterprise buildings on the campus.
- Aviation: Inverness Airport: The busiest airport in the Highlands and Islands Airports network, at Dalcross about 8 miles north-east of the city.
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.
Enterprise, investment and freeport zones
- Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (Inverness tax site)
These zones can bring business rates relief or enhanced capital allowances for eligible firms on qualifying sites; check the current terms with the zone before relying on them.
Grid connection
Inverness is served by SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of 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 Inverness
Planning in Inverness is decided by Highland 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 city centre is covered by the Inverness (Riverside) Conservation Area, which has an Article 4 Direction. The adjoining Inverness (Crown) Conservation Area was also designated in 2006.
- Inverness Airport at Dalcross is about 8 miles north-east of the city, so sites near it may need glint and glare checks.
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 Inverness could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 804 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 80,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £13,507 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,206 earned |
| Total a year | About £14,713 |
| Simple payback | About 6.1 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 for energy efficiency, with cashback of up to £30,000 per business. Applications are taken on a rolling basis while funds last. 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 Highland
At the end of 2025, Highland had 13,409 solar PV installations with 50.7 MW of capacity, up 168% since 2020, according to government figures. The Highland page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000334 inverness
- shepherd.co.uk: 17 longman drive longman industrial estate inverness shire
- hie.co.uk: about inverness campus
- shepherd.co.uk: hazel house stoneyfield business park inverness inverness shire
- shepherd.co.uk
- nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk: Hospitals
- en.wikipedia.org: Inverness Airport
- gov.uk: maps of inverness and cromarty firth green freeport
- revenue.scot: designation inverness cromarty green freeport tax
- her.highland.gov.uk: DHG5856
- her.highland.gov.uk: DHG5857
- businessenergyscotland.org: sme loan
- en.wikipedia.org: Inverness
- 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 Inverness?
SSEN Distribution (Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution, North of 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 Inverness?
About 80,400 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 £14,713 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Inverness 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
- Highland13,409 installations, 50.7 MW of solar and about 800 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.