Off the gas grid is normal in Scotland. Off the electricity grid is a different conversation.
Two very different situations get called off-grid, and the answer is not the same for both. Here is which one you are in.
If your property is off the gas grid in Scotland, an air source heat pump is a straightforward replacement for oil, LPG, electric storage or solid fuel. If your electricity supply itself is limited or constrained, the network operator is part of the conversation from day one.
Key facts
- •Air source heat pumps are a direct replacement for oil, LPG, electric storage and solid fuel in off-gas Scottish properties.
- •If your electricity supply is constrained or single-phase, the network operator is consulted before a heat pump is specified.
- •Installations are carried out through MCS-certified partners, with the installer named in writing on your quotation.
- •Zero percent VAT applies to qualifying domestic heat pump installations until 31 March 2027.
- •Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status, is available.
- •We serve off-gas Scotland nationwide on the mainland and islands accessible by road bridge. Ferry-only islands are not covered.
Last updated: 28 October 2026.
What does off-grid actually mean for your property?
Two very different situations get the same label. The first is common and straightforward. The second is rare and changes everything about how we approach your installation.
Off the gas grid
Very common in rural Scotland. Heating is oil, LPG, electric storage or solid fuel. A heat pump is a straightforward alternative and the usual survey rules apply.
- —Oil, LPG, storage heaters or solid fuel replaced directly
- —Standard survey process, no network involvement needed
- —Most off-grid properties in Scotland fall here
Off or constrained on the electricity grid
A much smaller group. A limited supply, a long single-phase spur, or a property running on its own generation. Here the supply itself decides what is possible, the network operator is part of the conversation from day one, and solar plus storage often has to be part of the answer rather than an add-on.
- —Limited supply or long single-phase spur
- —Network operator involved from the start — SP Energy Networks or SSEN
- —Solar plus storage often required, not optional
Almost everyone who says off-grid means off the gas grid. If you genuinely mean the electricity supply, say so on the form — it changes everything.
How does the process work?
Three steps. You tell us about your property, we assess your supply and heating demand, and you receive a written quotation with no obligation.
Tell us about your property
Fill in the form with your postcode, property type and current monthly bill. We use this to understand your heating demand and whether your supply situation is straightforward or constrained.
We assess your supply and heating demand
We check which network operator covers your postcode — SP Energy Networks in central and southern Scotland, SSEN in the north and Highlands. If your supply is constrained, we plan around it from the start.
You get a written quotation
You receive a written quotation with MCS-listed equipment confirmed in writing, a clear price range, and the name of the certified installer who will carry out the work. No obligation, no pressure.
What is included in the installation?
Everything from the first survey to the final handover. MCS-listed equipment, insurance-backed guarantee, scaffolding, and a written quotation with no hidden extras.
- Full property survey and heating demand assessment
- Network operator check — SP Energy Networks or SSEN, depending on your postcode
- MCS-listed equipment, confirmed in writing on your quotation
- Installation through MCS-certified partners
- Insurance-backed guarantee that survives if the installer ceases trading
- Scaffolding included, not charged as an extra
- System commissioning and handover with operating instructions
- Written quotation with a clear price range — no single figure, no pressure
Off-grid heat pumps for farms and businesses
Air source heat pump systems designed for off-gas farms, rural estates, holiday lets, hospitality and small businesses across Scotland.
Built for larger buildings
Farms, estates, holiday lets and rural businesses need more than a domestic system. We design cascade and hybrid configurations for higher heat and hot water demand.
Solar and storage integrated
Pair your heat pump with solar PV and battery storage to offset daytime electricity use and cut running costs — designed in from the start, not bolted on.
Move off oil and LPG
Oil and LPG are expensive per kWh. We model your actual running costs after a site survey, so you know what to expect before committing.
Should you not bother?
If your property has a genuinely limited electricity supply with no route to increasing it, a heat pump may not be viable. Finding that out early costs you nothing.
This is not for you if your electricity supply is severely constrained with no realistic upgrade path. A heat pump draws significantly more power than storage heaters or an oil boiler, and if the supply cannot meet that demand, no amount of good engineering will make it work.
Ferry-only islands are not covered. We serve off-gas Scotland nationwide on the mainland and islands accessible by road bridge.
But finding this out costs you nothing. Fill in the form, tell us about your supply, and we will tell you plainly whether it is worth proceeding.
What five questions should you ask any installer?
These five questions separate a real installer from a sales operation. Ask them of anyone who quotes on your heat pump, including us.
- 01
What is your MCS certification number?
- 02
Are you a TrustMark registered business?
- 03
Is your guarantee insurance-backed, and does it survive if you cease trading?
- 04
Is scaffolding included, or charged as an extra?
- 05
Who actually carries out the installation, and are they the same company whose name is on the certificate?
We install through MCS-certified partners — the installer will be confirmed in writing on your quotation.
If you are weighing up a heat pump alongside other heating work, the wider Scottish Energy Efficiency network has related resources. Boiler Upgrade Scotland covers broader heating and renewable options across the country, Solar Finance Scotland explains monthly payment plans with interest-free credit, and New Boiler Glasgow handles heating installations in the Glasgow area. Part of the Scottish Energy Efficiency network.
What do Scottish property owners ask about heat pumps?
Ten direct answers about off-gas heat pumps, constrained electricity supplies, costs, VAT relief, installer credentials and coverage areas.
Last updated: 28 October 2026. Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team.
Yes. An air source heat pump is a direct replacement for oil, LPG, electric storage or solid fuel heating in off-gas Scottish properties. A survey confirms suitability, but the technology is well established for these homes.
A constrained or single-phase supply changes what is possible. The network operator becomes part of the conversation from day one, and solar plus storage often has to be part of the answer rather than an add-on.
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is England and Wales only and does not apply in Scotland. This is a key difference for Scottish property owners considering heat pump installation.
Yes. Zero percent VAT applies to qualifying domestic heat pump installations until 31 March 2027, as set by HMRC. This reduces the total cost of your installation.
The Smart Export Guarantee pays roughly 4p to 25p per kWh for exported electricity, depending on your supplier and tariff. This applies if your system includes solar generation that exports surplus to the grid.
We install through MCS-certified partners. The installer who carries out your work will be confirmed in writing on your quotation.
No. Ferry-only islands are not covered. We serve off-gas Scotland nationwide on the mainland and islands accessible by road bridge. If you are on a ferry-only island, we cannot help.
Costs vary by property size, heating demand and system design. We provide ranges with an illustrative caveat on every quotation, confirmed after a full property survey and heat loss calculation.
A typical installation takes two to four days depending on property size and complexity. This includes removing the old system, installing the heat pump and cylinder, upgrading radiators where needed, and commissioning the system.
Possibly. Heat pumps run at lower flow temperatures than oil or gas boilers, so some existing radiators may need upgrading to larger sizes. This is determined by the heat loss calculation during the survey and confirmed in your written quotation.
Ready to get your written quotation?
Fill in the form and receive a written quotation with MCS-listed equipment confirmed. No obligation, no pressure, no call centre.
Tell us about your property and your current heating. We will check your network operator, assess your supply situation, and send you a written quotation with MCS-listed equipment confirmed in writing.
—No obligation, no pressure, no call centre
—If your supply is constrained, we tell you plainly
—Ferry-only islands not covered