Commercial solar in Antrim and Newtownabbey

Solar in Antrim and Newtownabbey in figures

What the figures show

Capacity in Antrim and Newtownabbey has grown by 104% since the end of 2020, faster than the UK as a whole (69%). It barely moved in 2025 (from 68.2 MW to 69.7 MW).

There are 43.0 installations for every 1,000 households, below the Northern Ireland median of 49.4 and below the UK median of 67.0. That is 287th of 361 council areas, and 10th of 11 in Northern Ireland.

The average installation is 26.8 kW, several times a typical home system of about 4 kW, so solar farms and large commercial or farm roofs make up much of the capacity here.

What a business roof in Antrim and Newtownabbey could generate

Modelled with PVGIS for the centre of Antrim and Newtownabbey, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 884 kWh per kWp a year. That is 315th of 361 council areas; the UK median is 998 kWh.

Same sums as our commercial solar calculator: illustrative, not a quote. East- or west-facing roofs, shading and how much power you use in daylight all move these figures, and a company paying corporation tax can usually shorten the payback with capital allowances. See the cost guide for price ranges by system size.

Planning and grid connection

Planning in Northern Ireland is run mainly by the 11 councils, so Antrim and Newtownabbey council decides most applications, with the Department for Infrastructure handling regionally significant ones. Rooftop solar on many non-domestic buildings can go ahead without an application, within limits. Our planning permission guide sets out the conditions.

NIE Networks runs the network across Northern Ireland, and systems connect under the G98/NI and G99/NI process. There is no Smart Export Guarantee in Northern Ireland, so sizing the system to the power you use on site matters even more.

For funding, see grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland.

Nearby council areas

• Mid and East Antrim, about 12 miles away
• Belfast, about 12 miles away
• Lisburn and Castlereagh, about 15 miles away
• Ards and North Down, about 23 miles away
• Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, about 24 miles away
• Causeway Coast and Glens, about 29 miles away

Or see every council area and the Northern Ireland page.

Where these figures come from

Installations, capacity, generation and households: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Regional Renewable Statistics, renewable electricity by local authority 2014 to 2025 (workbook). They cover all solar PV, homes and businesses, including ground-mounted schemes. Yield: PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), SARAH3 data and 14% system losses, for the council area's centre point (ONS boundaries, December 2024), modelled 4 November 2026. Distances are between centre points.