Heat pumps in Perthshire glens for off-gas properties
Local housing types, off-gas context, insulation and radiator considerations, and network operator information for Perthshire glens.
Key facts
- •Glen properties in Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Strathtay are often off-gas on oil or LPG.
- •Some glens have constrained electricity supplies — solar plus storage may be needed.
- •SSEN covers the northern glens; SP Energy Networks covers the south.
- •Temperature inversions in glens can produce very cold valley-floor conditions.
- •Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status, is available.
Last updated: 28 October 2026.
What kind of properties in Perthshire glens need a heat pump?
Perthshire glens include properties in Glen Lyon, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Strathtay and Blairgowrie. These are often traditional stone-built properties — estate cottages, farmhouses and rural homes — heated by oil, LPG or solid fuel. Some modern properties exist in the main towns but the glens are predominantly older stock.
Why are so many Perthshire glens properties off the gas grid?
The Perthshire glens are largely off the gas grid. Properties in the straths and glens rely on oil, LPG or solid fuel. The combination of off-gas status and constrained electricity supplies in some glens makes this an area where the network operator is frequently part of the conversation from day one.
Do Perthshire glens properties need insulation upgrades before a heat pump?
Stone-built glen properties typically have solid walls with limited insulation. The heat loss calculation identifies where insulation improvements would reduce the heat pump size required and lower running costs. Loft insulation is often the most cost-effective upgrade for older properties.
Will my radiators need replacing in a Perthshire glens property?
Many glen properties have radiator systems sized for oil boilers running at high flow temperatures. Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures, so some radiators may need upsizing. The survey identifies which radiators need replacing and this is confirmed in the written quotation.
How do heat pumps perform in a Perthshire glens winter?
Perthshire glens experience cold, settled winter conditions with temperature inversions that can hold cold air in the valley floors. The heat loss calculation accounts for local design temperatures, which can be significantly lower than nearby lowland areas. Heat pumps are designed to operate in these conditions.
Which network operator covers Perthshire glens?
SSEN covers the northern Perthshire glens, while SP Energy Networks covers the southern parts around Perth city. Some glen properties have constrained supplies — long spurs with limited import capacity — where solar plus storage may be part of the solution.
Nearby areas we also cover
Perthshire borders Aberdeenshire to the northeast, Angus to the east, the Highlands to the northwest, and the Central Belt to the south. Properties in the glens are some of the most likely in Scotland to have both off-gas and constrained supply situations.
Large parts of rural Aberdeenshire are off the gas grid. Oil-fired boilers and LPG tanks are the norm on farms and rural properties.
Highlands (edge towns)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.
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.
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.
Ready to get your written quotation?
Fill in the form on the homepage and receive a written quotation with MCS-listed equipment confirmed. No obligation, no pressure, no call centre.