Key facts
| Council area | Westmorland and Furness |
| Population | 55,255 (Barrow-in-Furness built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Waterfront Business Park; Park Road employment area (including County Park Industrial Estate) |
| Indicative yield | About 1,002 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Barrow-in-Furness
- Waterfront Business Park: Dockland business park allocated for employment in the Barrow Borough Local Plan, with 17.63 of its 18.5 hectares still to develop at 31 March 2025 (Harding Rise House has been built on part). BAE Systems opened its Resolution Building logistics warehouse on Dova Way there in October 2016.
- Park Road employment area (including County Park Industrial Estate): Industrial corridor along Park Road. At 31 March 2025, 7 hectares east of Park Road had permission for eight employment units, and part of the land west of Robert McBride had permission for a 30MW hydrogen electrolyser.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Submarine building (BAE Systems): BAE Systems said in July 2026 that £1bn had been invested in its Barrow submarines site and its workforce had grown from 11,000 to about 16,000 over four years, as it builds Dreadnought class submarines.
- Offshore wind (Ørsted): Ørsted runs the 659 MW Walney Extension wind farm from its Barrow-in-Furness base, which supports more than 250 direct jobs; its wind capacity operated out of Barrow totals 1.5 GW.
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
Barrow-in-Furness is served by Electricity North West (North 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 Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Westmorland and Furness 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:
- Westmorland and Furness Council adopted a new appraisal and management plan for the Central Barrow Conservation Area on 21 April 2026 and redrew its boundary, adding Cavendish Street and Coronation Gardens and taking out units at Hindpool Retail Park and on Hindpool Road. Check the new boundary 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 Barrow-in-Furness could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,002 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 100,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,834 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,503 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,337 |
| 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 Barrow-in-Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness
At the end of 2025, Westmorland and Furness had 9,791 solar PV installations with 78.7 MW of capacity, up 72% since 2020, according to government figures. The Westmorland and Furness page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Morecambe, about 15 miles away
- Fleetwood, about 16 miles away
- Lancaster, about 17 miles away
- Kendal, about 25 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk: Local Plan Employment Sites Status 31st March 2025
- en.wikipedia.org: The Waterfront Barrow in Furness
- baesystems.com: major contract funds new nuclear deterrent submarines
- orsted.co.uk: walney extension
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk: proposed changes conservation areas approved cabinet
- westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk: AdoptionStatement CentralBarrow CAAMP Accessible
- 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 Barrow-in-Furness?
Electricity North West (North 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 Barrow-in-Furness?
About 100,200 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 £18,337 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Barrow-in-Furness 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
- Westmorland and Furness9,791 installations, 78.7 MW of solar and about 843 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North WestTwo network operators, realistic northern yields, Trafford Park, the Port of Liverpool, Cheshire chemicals and Cumbrian farming, and Greater Manchester's non-charging clean air plan.
- 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.