Key facts for commercial solar in Northern Ireland
| Network operator | NIE Networks (the whole of Northern Ireland) |
| Connection standards | G98/NI for microgeneration; G99/NI for larger systems |
| Indicative yield | About 800 to 900 kWh per kWp per year for a well-oriented roof |
| Planning regime | Northern Ireland: 11 councils and the Department for Infrastructure; Strategic Planning Policy Statement |
| Export payments | No Smart Export Guarantee; any export terms are set by individual suppliers |
| Nation support page | Northern Ireland (see below) |
| City pages | Belfast |
NIE Networks and the connection process
NIE Networks owns and operates the electricity distribution network across all of Northern Ireland, so there is no question of which operator applies. Northern Ireland uses its own versions of the connection standards:
- G98/NI covers microgeneration up to 16A per phase (about 3.68 kW single phase or 11.04 kW three phase). A single installation is fitted and then notified. Several installations close together by the same installer need a formal application.
- G99/NI covers larger systems, which includes nearly all commercial arrays. The application fee depends on system size, and NIE Networks prepares a connection offer once the application is complete. A fast track route exists for some smaller G99/NI systems.
Parts of the Northern Ireland network, especially in the west, already carry a lot of renewable generation, mainly wind, and capacity for new export can be limited. Because export income is also less certain here (see below), many commercial systems in Northern Ireland are designed to keep export low. Our G99 and DNO applications guide explains the general process; the NI versions follow the same principles with NIE Networks' own forms and charges.
Northern Ireland is also part of the Single Electricity Market with the Republic of Ireland, so wholesale prices and supplier offers are set differently from Great Britain.
No Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee applies in Great Britain only. In Northern Ireland there is no obligation on suppliers to pay for exported electricity under SEG; some suppliers offer their own export arrangements, with terms that vary. In practice, the financial case for commercial solar in Northern Ireland rests mainly on electricity you use on site, valued at your own unit rate. This favours:
- sizing the array to your daytime demand rather than to your roof area;
- adding battery storage to use midday surplus later in the day;
- pairing solar with daytime loads such as refrigeration, process heat or EV charging.
Ask any supplier directly what export terms they offer before including export income in your figures. Our Smart Export Guarantee page explains how the GB scheme works for comparison.
Yield in Northern Ireland
In our PVGIS model (version 5.2, SARAH2 data, 14% system losses), a south-facing 1 kWp array at the optimum tilt gives about 920 kWh a year near Belfast and about 850 kWh near Enniskillen in the west. An east-west layout at 10 degrees near Belfast gives about 760 kWh. The east of Northern Ireland is generally sunnier than the west. These figures are indicative; a survey models your actual roof.
Planning in Northern Ireland
Planning in Northern Ireland has been run mainly by the 11 district councils since April 2015, with the Department for Infrastructure handling regionally significant applications and setting policy. The Strategic Planning Policy Statement sets the regional framework. Planning Policy Statement 18 on renewable energy continues to apply in each council area until that council adopts its new local development plan strategy, so the policy that applies to you depends on where your site is.
Northern Ireland has permitted development rights for non-domestic microgeneration under Part 37 of the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015. For panels on a non-domestic building, the conditions include limits on projection from a roof slope facing a road, a 2 metre height limit above a flat roof and a 2 metre setback from its edge, and restrictions in conservation areas, World Heritage Sites and for listed buildings. Stand-alone panels have a smaller area limit. Check the current Order before relying on these, and see our planning permission guide for general principles.
Business rates and support
Northern Ireland has its own rating system, run by Land and Property Services, and the GB business rates exemptions for onsite renewables do not apply there.
The Department of Finance's non-domestic valuation practice note says generating plant with an installed capacity of 50 kW or less is not rateable, under the Rates (Microgeneration) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012. Above that, where the power is mainly or exclusively used on site, such as a factory with rooftop panels for self-consumption, the plant is valued with the property. See solar panels and business rates.
Capital allowances are a UK-wide tax relief, so they apply in Northern Ireland as in Great Britain; confirm the treatment with your accountant. For any current loans or advice schemes, see grants and support in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's commercial buildings
- Agri-food. Agriculture and food processing are a large part of the economy, with dairy, beef, poultry and pig farming and the processing plants that serve them. Poultry houses, dairy units and chilled storage have steady daytime loads and large roofs. See our farms page and food and drink page.
- Manufacturing. Mid Ulster has a strong cluster of engineering and materials handling manufacturers, and Belfast has a history of aerospace and engineering.
- Ports and logistics. Belfast Harbour, Larne and Warrenpoint handle most freight, with distribution sites along the M1 and M2.
Cities with their own page
- Belfast: the harbour, city centre buildings and the greater Belfast industrial estates.
Solar and local funding here: the figures (checked November 2026)
| Area | Solar PV sites | Capacity 2025 | Capacity 2024 | Generation 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 33,391 | 400 MW | 401 MW | 329 GWh |
Source: DESNZ regional renewable statistics, 2025 workbooks. The sites include homes and the capacity includes solar farms, so these describe all solar in the area, not business rooftops.
Network operator: NIE Networks. Postcode areas: BT. We match each site with one of 130+ MCS certified installers across the UK, and only those who pass our checks, choosing one that covers Northern Ireland and takes on jobs of your size.
Local funding
Power NI's grant of up to 20% towards business solar PV, funded by the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, has closed for 2026/27, with the next scheme expected in April 2027 subject to funding, and Invest NI's Energy Efficiency Capital Grant is paused for review (checked 3 November 2026). See solar grants in Northern Ireland.
How the free survey works in Northern Ireland
Send the short form and we will call to understand your site and electricity use. If it looks suitable, we arrange a free survey with one MCS certified installer matched to the site, ideally one experienced with NIE Networks and Northern Ireland planning. Because export earns less certain income here, expect the installer to focus on matching generation to your demand. Your details go to that installer only, and there is no obligation to proceed.
Cities in Northern Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the Smart Export Guarantee in Northern Ireland?
No. The Smart Export Guarantee applies in Great Britain only. Some Northern Ireland suppliers offer their own export arrangements, but terms vary and are not guaranteed by a scheme. For most commercial sites the business case should rest on electricity used on site, so ask suppliers directly about export terms before counting on that income.
What is G99/NI and how is it different from G99?
G99/NI is Northern Ireland's version of the connection standard for generation above microgeneration size, administered by NIE Networks. The principles match G99 in Great Britain: you apply before connecting, NIE Networks assesses the network, and you receive a connection offer. The forms, fees and process details are NIE Networks' own, so use an installer familiar with them.
Do I need planning permission for solar on a business roof in Northern Ireland?
Often not, as Part 37 of the Northern Ireland permitted development order covers non-domestic rooftop solar, subject to conditions on height, projection and setback, and restrictions in conservation areas, World Heritage Sites and listed buildings. Your council handles applications where permission is needed. Check the current Order and your council's local policy before work starts.
Is a battery more important in Northern Ireland than in Great Britain?
Often it is. Without the Smart Export Guarantee, surplus midday generation may earn little or nothing, so storing it for use later in the day can add more value than it would in Great Britain. Whether it pays depends on your demand profile and battery cost. Half-hourly data lets the installer model the options.
Is a poultry or dairy farm suitable for solar in Northern Ireland?
Frequently. Poultry houses need ventilation, lighting and heating, and dairy units have milking and cooling loads every day, so much of the generation is used on site. Large shed roofs offer space, though older sheeting may contain asbestos. The survey checks the roof, the supply and how your demand matches generation through the year.
Related pages
- BelfastNIE Networks G99/NI connections, council planning since 2015, no Smart Export Guarantee, and roofs at Belfast Harbour, Mallusk and the city's old linen buildings.
- Northern IrelandCurrent solar support in Northern Ireland for businesses, community groups, public bodies and farms, plus export, rates, planning and official contacts.
Battery storageWhen a commercial battery pays: storing surplus solar, time of use tariffs, peak shaving, sizing from half-hourly data, illustrative costs, safety and siting.
Smart Export GuaranteeHow SEG export payments work for business solar in Great Britain, who is eligible, what accreditation and metering you need, and how much export adds to the case.- G99 and DNO applicationsG98 versus G99, what goes into a DNO application, connection offers, export limitation under G100, reinforcement costs and how the survey checks your supply.
- FarmsDairy, poultry and grain enterprises can make good use of solar on sheds or land. A farm survey looks closely at seasonal demand, building condition and rural grid capacity.