Heat pumps in Highlands (edge towns) for off-gas properties
Local housing types, off-gas context, insulation and radiator considerations, and network operator information for Highlands (edge towns).
Key facts
- •Stone cottages and croft houses on oil, LPG or storage heaters are prime heat pump candidates.
- •SSEN covers the area — constrained single-phase supplies are common and checked early.
- •Winter design temperatures can reach -10°C in exposed glens — heat pumps are rated for this.
- •Fuel delivery reliability in winter is a significant issue that heat pumps eliminate.
- •Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status, is available.
Last updated: 28 October 2026.
What kind of properties in Highlands (edge towns) need a heat pump?
Highland edge towns like Aviemore, Dingwall, Nairn and Grantown-on-Spey have a mix of modern estates on the gas grid and older properties on oil, LPG or electric storage heaters. The older stock — stone-built cottages, croft houses and former estate cottages — is where heat pump conversion is most beneficial.
Why are so many Highlands (edge towns) properties off the gas grid?
Beyond the gas grid in Inverness and the main towns, much of the Highlands is off-gas. Oil, LPG and electric storage heating are common in rural properties. The remoteness of many properties makes fuel deliveries expensive and unreliable in winter, making heat pumps an attractive alternative.
Do Highlands (edge towns) properties need insulation upgrades before a heat pump?
Highland croft houses and stone cottages often have minimal insulation. Before a heat pump is specified, the heat loss calculation identifies whether insulation upgrades are needed. Solid wall insulation, loft top-ups and draught-proofing are common recommendations for older Highland properties.
Will my radiators need replacing in a Highlands (edge towns) property?
Storage heater replacements in the Highlands often require entirely new radiator systems, since storage heaters produce no hot water and radiators may not exist. For oil-to-heat-pump conversions, existing radiators may need upsizing to accommodate lower flow temperatures.
How do heat pumps perform in a Highlands (edge towns) winter?
The Highlands have some of the coldest winter temperatures in the UK, with design temperatures as low as -10°C in exposed glens. Air source heat pumps are rated to operate at these temperatures and below. The heat loss calculation uses your local design temperature to ensure adequate heat output on the coldest days.
Which network operator covers Highlands (edge towns)?
SSEN covers the Highlands. Many rural properties are on long single-phase spurs with limited import capacity. We consult SSEN early in the process, and if the supply is constrained, solar PV and battery storage may be part of the system design.
Nearby areas we also cover
The Highlands border Aberdeenshire and Moray to the east, Perthshire to the south, and Argyll to the southwest. Ferry-only islands are not covered — we serve mainland Highland towns and those accessible by road bridge.
Large parts of rural Aberdeenshire are off the gas grid. Oil-fired boilers and LPG tanks are the norm on farms and rural properties.
MorayRural Moray has significant numbers of off-gas properties, particularly farms and cottages away from the main towns. The Moray Firth coast has some gas network coverage in towns, but inland and rural properties are predominantly off-gas.
Perthshire glensThe Perthshire glens are largely off the gas grid. Properties in the straths and glens rely on oil, LPG or solid fuel.
ArgyllMuch of Argyll is off the gas grid. The mainland coast and road-bridge-accessible islands have significant numbers of off-gas properties.
Last updated: 28 October 2026. Reviewed by the Scottish Energy Efficiency team.
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