Commercial solar in Derry and Strabane

Solar in Derry and Strabane in figures

What the figures show

Capacity in Derry and Strabane has grown by 6,525% since the end of 2020, faster than the UK as a whole (69%). In 2025 alone it rose from 12.7 MW to 13.3 MW.

There are 55.5 installations for every 1,000 households, above the Northern Ireland median of 49.4 and below the UK median of 67.0. That is 231st of 361 council areas, and 3rd of 11 in Northern Ireland.

At 4.1 kW on average, most installations here are home-sized, so business roofs make up a small share of what is installed so far.

What a business roof in Derry and Strabane could generate

Modelled with PVGIS for the centre of Derry and Strabane, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 822 kWh per kWp a year. That is 352nd 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 Derry and Strabane 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 Ulster, about 28 miles away
• Fermanagh and Omagh, about 30 miles away
• Causeway Coast and Glens, about 36 miles away
• Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, about 49 miles away
• Antrim and Newtownabbey, about 50 miles away
• Mid and East Antrim, about 51 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.