Commercial solar surveys in Newcastle

Key facts

Grid connection with Northern Powergrid

Newcastle and the rest of Tyneside are served by Northern Powergrid through its Northeast licence, which is separate from its Yorkshire licence further south. Commercial systems above the G98 limits need G99 approval before connecting. Boundaries can vary at the edges of licence areas, so confirm your operator with the Energy Networks Association postcode tool.

Riverside sites with heavy engineering loads may already have high-voltage supplies, while older estates often have constrained low-voltage connections. Where the network cannot take full export, a G100 export limitation scheme can still let a well-sized array connect. Our page on G99 and DNO applications explains what to expect.

Planning on Tyneside

Newcastle City Council covers the city, including Newcastle Great Park, Newcastle Business Park and the land around Newcastle International Airport. Many major employment sites sit across the river or along the coast:

• Team Valley Trading Estate is in Gateshead, so Gateshead Council decides applications there.
• Cobalt Business Park is in North Tyneside.
• The Port of Tyne estate at Tyne Dock is in South Tyneside.
• Nissan's Sunderland plant and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park sit in Sunderland and South Tyneside.

England's permitted development rights for non-domestic rooftop solar were widened in December 2023 and the 1 MW limit removed, with conditions on flat roofs, listed buildings and conservation areas. Grainger Town in the city centre has many listed sandstone buildings and lies within a conservation area. Our planning permission guide explains the conditions.

The local economy and solar

Tyneside's economy includes offshore energy and subsea engineering along the river, automotive and advanced manufacturing linked to Sunderland, logistics, digital businesses, health and two universities. Engineering works and manufacturers on long daytime shifts usually make the best use of solar, as do hospitals and campuses. Multi-let trading estates can also work well where the landlord and tenants agree how to share the power; see commercial landlords.

The Clean Air Zone and vehicle charging

Newcastle and Gateshead launched a Class C Clean Air Zone in January 2023 covering Newcastle city centre, with charges for non-compliant vans added from July 2023. Private cars are not charged. At the time of writing the published daily charges are £12.50 for vans and taxis and £50 for HGVs, buses and coaches; check the councils' Breathe Clean Air site for current rates, the zone map and exemptions.

For businesses whose vans cross the centre every day, moving to electric removes the charge, and a rooftop array can supply much of the daytime charging. Our page on EV charging for business covers how chargers and solar are planned together.

Roofs and buildings on Tyneside

• Victorian and Edwardian sandstone buildings in Grainger Town and along the Quayside, often listed, with slate roofs and limited usable area.
• Team Valley's older units from its early decades and later rebuilds, alongside 1960s to 1980s units across Tyneside, some with asbestos cement roofs; see asbestos roofs.
• Large riverside sheds and modern business park units with profiled metal roofs, suited to rail-mounted arrays.

Exposed riverside and coastal sites see stronger winds, so fixings and edge zones need proper design.

Expected generation

Despite its northern position, Newcastle's east coast climate is relatively dry. A well-oriented array typically produces about 820 to 920 kWh per kWp a year (indicative). The European Commission's PVGIS model gives close to 950 kWh per kWp for an ideally angled south-facing array with standard losses, and nearer 745 for a low-pitch east-west layout.

How the free survey works

Tell us about the site using the short form. We review the enquiry and call you to understand the building and your energy use. If it looks suitable we arrange a free survey with one MCS certified installer matched to the site, in person or virtual, and your details go to that installer only. There is no obligation. Our North East page covers the wider region.