Key facts
| Council area | Antrim and Newtownabbey |
| Population | 25,464 (Antrim settlement, usual residents, Census 2021 (NISRA table CT0046, exact settlement count)) |
| Network operator | NIE Networks |
| Main employment areas | Antrim Technology Park; Enkalon Business Park; Kilbegs Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 884 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland |
Where businesses are in Antrim
- Antrim Technology Park: Park on the Belfast Road opened in 1986 by the Industrial Development Board, with 16 business units. Occupiers include NIE, Nitec Solutions, Delap & Waller, Fortress Diagnostics and Sensata Technologies, and it was put up for sale at £5.5 million in September 2025.
- Enkalon Business Park: Industrial and distribution park just off the M2, where Errigal Group is building new warehouse units of 10,000 to 355,000 sq ft. Existing occupiers include Tesco, DPD, Sports Direct, Bathshack and Huhtamaki.
- Kilbegs Business Park: Business park on Kilbegs Road with industrial units; neighbouring occupiers include Harley Davidson, Marcon and Firmus Energy.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Sensors and electronics (Sensata): Sensata Technologies has a manufacturing plant in Antrim with hundreds of staff, and opened a 67,000 sq ft research and development centre in Newtownabbey in June 2025.
- Logistics and distribution: Enkalon Business Park, described by its developer as an industrial and distribution hub, already hosts Tesco, DPD, Sports Direct, Bathshack and Huhtamaki, and is planned to total 1.75 million sq ft.
Large, simple roofs on distribution sheds and modern industrial units are usually the quickest and cheapest to fit. Older mill, factory and workshop buildings can work well too, but often need a structural survey first, and roofs from before 2000 may contain asbestos cement: see asbestos roofs.
Grid connection
Antrim is served by NIE Networks, which runs the network across Northern Ireland. Systems connect under the G98/NI and G99/NI process, and there is no Smart Export Guarantee in Northern Ireland, so sizing the system to the power you use on site matters even more. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Antrim
Planning in Antrim is decided by Antrim and Newtownabbey council. Rooftop solar on many non-domestic buildings can go ahead without an application within the Northern Ireland limits; listed buildings need consent.
Points that come up locally:
- Antrim Town Centre is a conservation area with a published guide, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels in the centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Antrim could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 884 kWh per kWp a year.
| Item | Illustrative figure |
|---|---|
| System | 100 kWp, south facing at 30 degrees |
| Installed cost | £900 per kWp, so £90,000 excluding VAT |
| Generation | About 88,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,851 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,326 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,177 |
| Simple payback | About 5.6 years before tax relief |
Illustrative, not a quote: the same sums as our commercial solar calculator. A company paying corporation tax can usually shorten the payback with capital allowances.
Funding and support
- NISEP Commercial Energy Saving Scheme (2026/27): A Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme grant of 20% for commercial and non-domestic properties anywhere in Northern Ireland, with the applicant paying 80%. Measures include solar PV (grant capped at £30,000), boiler replacement, intelligent heating controls and lighting. Applications go to Power NI. The list of schemes covers April 2026 to March 2027. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland.
Solar across Antrim and Newtownabbey
At the end of 2025, Antrim and Newtownabbey had 2,604 solar PV installations with 69.7 MW of capacity, up 104% since 2020, according to government figures. The Antrim and Newtownabbey page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Ballymena, about 11 miles away
- Lisburn, about 16 miles away
- Carrickfergus, about 16 miles away
- Magherafelt, about 16 miles away
Sources
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 person and household estimates for settlements
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 commissioned table ct0046.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org: Antrim, County Antrim
- 4ni.co.uk: antrim technology park listed for sale at 5
- lisney.com: Antrim Antrim Technology Park reduced Size
- businesseye.co.uk: antrims enkalon business park launches new warehouse space
- commercialpropertyfinder.nibusinessinfo.co.uk: unit c1 kilbegs business park kilbegs road antrim
- uktech.news: sensata technologies opens new rd site in northern
- nienetworks.co.uk
- infrastructure-ni.gov.uk: conservation area guides z list
- uregni.gov.uk: NISEP List of Schemes 2026 27 updated
- Yield: PVGIS 5.3 (European Commission Joint Research Centre), SARAH3 data, 14% system losses, for the town centre, modelled 4 November 2026.
- Council area figures: DESNZ, renewable electricity by local authority 2014 to 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the electricity network operator in Antrim?
NIE Networks. Most commercial solar systems need its G99 approval before they are switched on. The operator follows the postcode, so confirm yours with the Energy Networks Association postcode tool.
How much would a 100 kWp solar system generate in Antrim?
About 88,400 kWh a year for a south-facing roof at 30 degrees, modelled with PVGIS for the town centre. At 70% used on site at 24p and the rest exported at 5p, that is worth about £16,177 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Antrim get a free solar survey?
Yes. Answer six short questions and we match the site with one MCS certified installer, who surveys it on site or by video call. It is free, with no obligation. Get a free survey.
Related pages
- Antrim and Newtownabbey2,604 installations, 69.7 MW of solar and about 884 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Northern IrelandNIE Networks and the G98/NI and G99/NI process, no Smart Export Guarantee, council-led planning, and the agri-food and manufacturing buildings that suit solar.
- Commercial solar calculatorEstimate commercial solar savings and payback, with the generation, price and cost assumptions shown and sourced, and the limits of a simple estimate explained.
- Northern IrelandCurrent solar support in Northern Ireland for businesses, community groups, public bodies and farms, plus export, rates, planning and official contacts.
- Planning permissionPermitted development for commercial rooftop solar and car park canopies in England, prior approval, heritage limits, ground-mounted schemes and the other UK nations.