Key facts
| Council area | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Population | 17,248 (Banbridge settlement, usual residents, Census 2021 (NISRA table CT0046, exact settlement count)) |
| Network operator | NIE Networks |
| Main employment areas | Scarva Road Industrial Estate; Cascum Road and Rathfriland Road |
| Indicative yield | About 909 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland |
Where businesses are in Banbridge
- Scarva Road Industrial Estate: Home to Banbridge District Enterprises, which runs two business centres in Banbridge with office and industrial units, near the A1 and M1. The council's 2015 employment paper named Scarva Road as one of the town's main areas of economic land.
- Cascum Road and Rathfriland Road: The council's 2015 employment paper named these, with Scarva Road, as Banbridge's main areas of economic land, then home to employers including the Gordons Chemist distribution centre and The Outlet.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Aircraft seating (Thompson Aero Seating): Thompson Aero Seating opened a £7.5 million Dynamic Test Facility in Banbridge in 2023, the first of its kind on the island of Ireland, to crash test and certify aircraft seats. The company reported revenue of £224m for 2025, up from £170m in 2024.
- Outlet retail (The Boulevard): The Boulevard outlet centre in Banbridge, owned by Lotus Property, reported 2025 sales up 11.5% and footfall up 12.3% on 2024, and IKEA opened its first concept store there in 2025.
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
Banbridge 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 Banbridge
Planning in Banbridge is decided by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon 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:
- In Northern Ireland, roof panels on a non-domestic building are permitted development subject to limits (no more than 20 cm proud of a roof slope facing a road, no higher than 2 m above a flat roof), but not on a roof or wall facing and visible from a road in a conservation area, nor within the curtilage of a listed building without listed building consent.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Banbridge could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 909 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 90,900 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,271 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,364 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,635 |
| Simple payback | About 5.4 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 Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon
At the end of 2025, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon had 3,909 solar PV installations with 38.5 MW of capacity, up 276% since 2020, according to government figures. The Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Craigavon, about 8 miles away
- Portadown, about 9 miles away
- Newry, about 12 miles away
- Lisburn, about 15 miles away
Sources
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 person and household estimates for settlements
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 commissioned table ct0046.xlsx
- commercialpropertyfinder.nibusinessinfo.co.uk: banbridge district enterprises ltd scarva road industrial estate
- armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk: preparatory paper 3 employment
- thompsonaero.com: ft investment impact awards thompson aero seating awarded
- thompsonaero.com: thompson aero seating announces strong revenue growth
- news.completelyretail.co.uk
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Investment Zones Pack Dec 2025
- gov.uk: budget 2026 html
- nienetworks.co.uk
- legislation.gov.uk
- 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 Banbridge?
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 Banbridge?
About 90,900 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 £16,635 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Banbridge 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
- Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon3,909 installations, 38.5 MW of solar and about 908 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.