Solar for Park Homes, Caravans & Lodges

Before you start: a quick checklist

• Permission from your park or site operator, and any site licence conditions
• Whether planning permission or a building warrant is needed for your property
• The roof structure, its condition and whether it can take the extra weight
• Which way the roof faces, its pitch, and shading from trees or nearby units
• Where a battery can be kept safely, with ventilation and protection from frost
• Whether the property is grid-connected or off-grid
• Your insurance, so cover reflects the new equipment

Roofs and mounting

Park homes, static caravans and lodges have very different roofs: shallow-pitched metal or felt, tiles, or flat membranes. Each needs a suitable mounting method, and every fixing must be properly sealed against Scottish rain. Where the roof isn't suitable, panels can sometimes go on a ground-mounted frame instead, if the site allows.

Orientation and shading

South-facing roofs give the most output, but east and west-facing roofs still work well. Many parks are set among trees, and neighbouring units can cast shadows in winter when the sun is low, so a shading check is one of the first things we look at.

Grid-connected or off-grid?

Grid-connected homes

Solar can reduce the electricity you buy, and a battery lets you store daytime generation for the evening. Grid-connected systems must be installed and notified correctly. We install through MCS-certified partners.

Off-grid lodges and static caravans

Without mains supply, battery capacity and winter planning matter most. Solar alone rarely covers a Scottish winter, so off-grid properties usually need a backup source of charging and careful choices about appliances.

Batteries: placement and cold weather

Batteries need a dry, ventilated spot that's protected from frost. Many lithium batteries shouldn't be charged below freezing, so for unheated lodges and caravans left over winter, ask about low-temperature protection or an indoor location.

Holiday lodges left empty

If a lodge sits empty for weeks at a time, a small system can keep a battery topped up for alarms, lighting or monitoring. A battery monitor lets you check the charge level when you return.