Public support for solar energy is strong across Scotland, with more people in favour of building solar farms near their homes than opposed, according to a survey commissioned by industry body Solar Energy Scotland and conducted by More in Common. The poll, which surveyed 1,035 Scottish adults between 9 and 13 October, found that 43% support nearby solar farm developments, compared with 22% who oppose them.
Support is even higher for solar installations on public buildings, with 70% of respondents backing panels on schools, hospitals and other public facilities, while only 6% oppose the measure. Grants to help households install solar panels and battery storage systems also received majority support, at 63%, compared with 8% against.

The survey highlights considerable interest in residential solar, although financial constraints remain a significant obstacle. Nearly two in five respondents (38%) said they would like to install solar panels at home but do not believe they will be able to do so. A further 9% plan to install them in the coming years. Upfront costs were identified as the main barrier, cited by 48% of respondents, while 25% considered their homes unsuitable and another 25% expressed concerns that the technology would not pay for itself.
In response to these financial concerns, Solar Energy Scotland pointed to the UK Government’s recently launched Warm Homes Loan Scheme, which provides low- or zero-interest loans for solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps and other household energy improvements. According to the organisation, the scheme is intended to make installations more accessible by ensuring that the resulting energy savings outweigh loan repayments.
Beyond residential installations, the findings indicate support for stronger policy measures to expand solar deployment. Some 59% of respondents favour requiring solar panels on all new-build homes in Scotland, while 51% support establishing an official national target for solar generation. Only 12% oppose the latter proposal.
Solar Energy Scotland also highlighted a gap between public support and perceptions of political commitment. Half of those surveyed either did not know what the Scottish Government was doing to expand solar generation (30%) or believed it was doing too little (20%). The organisation has called for a national target of 9 GW of solar capacity by 2035, alongside updated building standards, affordable financing, improved grid access and more resources for planning authorities.
Support for battery storage developments was less pronounced than for solar farms, with 36% in favour and 27% opposed, reflecting what Solar Energy Scotland described as lower public familiarity with the technology. Nevertheless, support still exceeded opposition.
The findings also point to broad backing for the country’s wider energy transition: three times as many respondents wanted Scotland to continue moving towards wind and solar power as wanted a return to fossil fuels. The results were presented at Solar Energy Scotland’s annual The Future for Solar & Storage in Scotland 2026 event in Edinburgh.
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