Key facts
| Council area | Highland |
| Population | 6,913 (Wick 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 | Wick Business Park; Wick Harbour |
| Indicative yield | About 827 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Wick
- Wick Business Park: Highlands and Islands Enterprise's business park on the north-west edge of Wick beside Wick John O'Groats Airport, off the A99. A £2.25m second phase of four 122 square metre units was due for completion at the end of 2025, and HIE consulted on further development in August and September 2025.
- Wick Harbour: A commercial port run by Wick Harbour Authority, with a Commercial Quay handling cargoes such as timber, road salt and onshore wind components, heavy lift pads installed in 2014, and the operations and maintenance base for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Offshore wind operations (Beatrice Offshore Windfarm): The Beatrice Offshore Windfarm, 84 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines about 13.5 km off the Caithness coast, is run from an operations and maintenance base in Wick Harbour with about 70 full-time equivalent roles in Wick.
- Whisky distilling (Old Pulteney): The Old Pulteney distillery has distilled whisky in Wick since 1826.
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
Wick 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 Wick
Planning in Wick 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 Wick Pulteneytown Conservation Area, Thomas Telford's planned town, was enlarged from 1 September 2021 and takes in Argyle Square and the harbour area, so business roofs there may need permission before panels go on.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Wick could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 827 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 82,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £13,894 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,241 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,134 |
| Simple payback | About 5.9 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 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.
Nearby towns
- Kirkwall, about 37 miles away
- Elgin, about 55 miles away
- Forres, about 61 miles away
- Fraserburgh, about 65 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000651 wick
- en.wikipedia.org: Wick, Caithness
- hie.co.uk: next phase of small business units for wick
- hie.co.uk: wick business park
- wickharbour.co.uk
- justtransition.scot: beatrice offshore windfarm
- oldpulteney.com
- gov.uk: maps of inverness and cromarty firth green freeport
- her.highland.gov.uk: DHG5852
- 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 Wick?
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 Wick?
About 82,700 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 £15,134 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Wick 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.