Key facts
| Council area | North Devon |
| Population | 31,275 (Barnstaple built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Roundswell; Pottington Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,010 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Barnstaple
- Roundswell: Onyx Business Parks' scheme of 29 light industrial units, about 29,000 sq ft in all, south of the A39 between Barnstaple and Bideford with access to the North Devon Link Road. Its sales list shows 21 units sold and 8 reserved.
- Pottington Business Park: Established industrial area in Barnstaple that includes the Riverside Units, a group of 17 modern purpose built industrial units with three phase power.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Pharmaceuticals (Accord): In April 2026 the government announced a more than £45 million investment by Accord in its Barnstaple site, one of the town's most important employers, which supplies medicines making up 9% of all NHS prescriptions.
- Health (North Devon District Hospital): The Royal Devon began a £22.7 million project in October 2025 to replace two staff residences at North Devon District Hospital with 120 ensuite bedrooms for staff and students.
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
Barnstaple is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area). Almost every commercial system needs G99 approval from the network operator before it is switched on, and the question is usually how much the local network can take back. Where export is limited, a G100 export limitation scheme can let a larger array connect. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Barnstaple
Barnstaple follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North Devon council. Rooftop solar on most non-domestic buildings is permitted development, within height and edge limits, and systems above 50 kW need a prior approval application covering design and glare.
Points that come up locally:
- Barnstaple Town Centre Conservation Area, designated in 1969, covers about 36.3 hectares and holds 226 listed buildings, including the Grade I Long Bridge, Queen Anne's Walk and Penrose Almshouses, so roofs in the centre need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Barnstaple could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,010 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 101,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,968 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,515 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,483 |
| Simple payback | About 4.9 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
We found no council or regional grant for business solar open in Barnstaple at the time of writing (November 2026). National reliefs still apply, such as capital allowances and, in England, the business rates exemption for onsite renewables: see grants and reliefs in England.
Solar across North Devon
At the end of 2025, North Devon had 6,400 solar PV installations with 143.0 MW of capacity, up 88% since 2020, according to government figures. The North Devon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Bideford, about 7 miles away
- Tiverton, about 28 miles away
- Bridgend, about 36 miles away
- Port Talbot, about 37 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- onyxbusinessparks.com: roundswell barnstaple
- jd-commercial.co.uk: Unit 14 Riverside Units
- en.wikipedia.org: Barnstaple, Devon
- gov.uk: vital medicines and new jobs in over 80
- royaldevon.nhs.uk: exciting 227m project to build new residences at
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- heritagecheck.co.uk: barnstaple town centre
- 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 Barnstaple?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area). 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 Barnstaple?
About 101,000 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 £18,483 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Barnstaple 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
- North Devon6,400 installations, 143.0 MW of solar and about 994 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South WestThe strongest yields in mainland Britain, a network with limited export capacity in places, Bristol and Bath clean air zones, dairy farming and Severnside logistics.
- 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.
- EnglandCurrent solar support in England for businesses, schools, public bodies, community groups and farms, plus rates, planning and who to contact.
- 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.