Key facts
| Council area | Braintree |
| Population | 43,190 (Braintree built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Horizon 120 Business and Innovation Park; Springwood Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,056 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Braintree
- Horizon 120 Business and Innovation Park: The council's business park at Great Notley, south of Great Notley Country Park across the A131. A Local Development Order approved in April 2020 and amended in August 2021 gives planning permission for light industrial, general industrial and warehouse uses, a hotel and a central hub.
- Springwood Industrial Estate: Estate on Rayne Road about a mile west of the town centre, with direct access to the A120 bypass towards Stansted Airport and the East Coast ports, where the council lets light industrial and warehouse units.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Health and care equipment: Mobility products distributor CareCo, the first employer to sign up to Horizon 120, opened its headquarters and distribution centre there in May 2022, and Medequip has a depot there storing wheelchairs, beds and hoists for people in Essex.
- Engineering and offsite construction: Essex X-Ray, which makes high voltage engineering products for aerospace, automotive and medical customers, is moving to a new factory at Horizon 120, and British Off Site is expanding its factory on the nearby Skyline estate.
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
Braintree is served by UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Braintree
Braintree follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Braintree 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:
- The council's August 2023 appraisal covers the Braintree Town Centre Conservation Area, the town's retail core, which was split from the 1969 conservation area with Bradford Street given its own designation; it notes solar panels are present but not common in one character area, 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 Braintree could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,056 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 105,600 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,741 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,584 earned |
| Total a year | About £19,325 |
| Simple payback | About 4.7 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 Braintree 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 Braintree
At the end of 2025, Braintree had 4,426 solar PV installations with 154.7 MW of capacity, up 366% since 2020, according to government figures. The Braintree page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Haverhill, about 15 miles away
- Bishop's Stortford, about 17 miles away
- Harlow, about 21 miles away
- Newmarket, about 26 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- braintree.gov.uk
- braintree.gov.uk: horizon 120 statement of reasons 2021
- braintree.gov.uk: 46 warner drive industrial estate tender
- locatebraintreedistrict.co.uk: key business sites at horizon 120
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of freeport east tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- braintree.gov.uk: braintree town centre conservation area character appraisal and
- 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 Braintree?
UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks 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 Braintree?
About 105,600 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 £19,325 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Braintree 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
- Braintree4,426 installations, 154.7 MW of solar and about 1,048 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East of EnglandUK Power Networks connections, strong yields, the Felixstowe and A14 logistics corridor, arable farming and food processing across Norfolk, Suffolk and the Fens.
- 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.