Short answer: a two-panel kit (920 Wp) hung vertically on a south-facing railing makes about 582 kWh a year in Glasgow, 15% less than in London (683 kWh) [calc], from EU PVGIS data. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee do a little better than Glasgow; Inverness and Lerwick a little less.
Town by town
| Town | Vertical, south (kWh/yr) | Tilted 35° (kWh/yr) | December, vertical | June, vertical | Saved/yr, 50% used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 582 | 784 | 22.6 | 56 | £77 |
| Edinburgh | 628 | 830 | 26.3 | 56 | £83 |
| Aberdeen | 627 | 821 | 26.1 | 61 | £82 |
| Dundee | 656 | 862 | 25.5 | 60 | £86 |
| Inverness | 557 | 745 | 17.1 | 56 | £73 |
| Lerwick | 520 | 701 | 9.7 | 61 | £68 |
| London | 683 | 937 | 39.8 | 58 | £90 |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
920 Wp, PVGIS v5.3 typical year, 14% losses, 800 W cap; saved = kWh x 50% x 26.32p, the Ofgem cap average for Great Britain, October to December 2026 [calc]. Scottish regions have their own cap rates: use your bill in the savings calculator.
Why the gap is smaller than the latitude suggests
- Long summer days in the north make up part of the weaker winter sun.
- A vertical kit makes 74% of what a 35° tilt makes in Glasgow, and 73% in London [calc]: hanging panels on a railing costs about the same share in both places.
- The 800 W cap almost never bites this far north with 920 Wp.
Your exact town and direction: generation calculator. The kits: plug-in kits compared.
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in Scotland?
Yes. SI 2026/848, in force since 27 August 2026, extends to England and Wales and Scotland, for compliant solar-only kits up to 800 W.
Do solar panels work in Scotland in winter?
They produce, but little: a 920 Wp vertical kit in Glasgow makes about 22.6 kWh in December against 56 kWh in June [calc].