Key facts
| Council area | West Lothian |
| Population | 55,836 (Scotland's Census 2022 population of the Livingston locality (NRS settlements and localities)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution: Central and Southern Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Houstoun Industrial Estate; Kirkton Campus; Brucefield Industrial Estate; Alba Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 854 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Livingston
- Houstoun Industrial Estate: Industrial estate (spelt Houston on the source page) where Mitsubishi Electric makes air conditioning and heat pump units and Wyman Gordon makes aircraft components.
- Kirkton Campus: Scotland's first technology science park, home to Sky's largest UK contact centre.
- Brucefield Industrial Estate: Industrial estate west of Bellsquarry.
- Alba Business Park: Business park west of Adambrae with occupiers including Glenmorangie, IQVIA and Ossur.
- Deans Industrial Estate: Industrial estate with Schuh's head office and customer service centre.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Heat pump and air conditioning manufacturing: Mitsubishi Electric's factory produces almost 150,000 air conditioning and heat pump units a year.
- Distribution: Tesco runs its distribution centre for Scotland and Northern Ireland on the northern edge of the town.
- Contact centres: Sky UK's largest UK contact centre is at Kirkton Campus; it cut staff there in 2025.
- Semiconductors and life sciences: Shin-Etsu Europe makes semiconductors and Valneva produces vaccines 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
Livingston 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 Livingston
Planning in Livingston 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.
Our planning permission guide sets out the rules.
What a business roof in Livingston could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 854 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 85,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,347 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,281 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,628 |
| Simple payback | About 5.8 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 (Scottish Government funded): Free energy saving support for SMEs, plus the SME Loan Scheme: interest free loans of £1,000 to £130,000 with cashback of up to £20,000 for energy efficiency measures. The loan page says it is not currently accepting new applications for solar PV projects; applications are otherwise processed on a rolling basis. 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
- Grangemouth, about 12 miles away
- East Kilbride, about 27 miles away
- Perth, about 35 miles away
- Carlisle, about 72 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: scotland
- en.wikipedia.org: Livingston, West Lothian
- en.wikipedia.org: Distribution network operator
- businessenergyscotland.org: sme loan scheme
- businessenergyscotland.org
- 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 Livingston?
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 Livingston?
About 85,400 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 £15,628 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Livingston 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.