Key facts
| Council area | East Staffordshire |
| Population | 76,270 (Census 2021 population of the Burton upon Trent built-up area (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Centrum 100; Burton Gateway |
| Indicative yield | About 958 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Burton upon Trent
- Centrum 100: Business park of distribution warehouses close to the A38 and A50, with occupiers including Boots, DHL, Clipper Logistics and Palletforce.
- Burton Gateway: St. Modwen industrial and distribution park of about 1 million sq ft beside the A38 at the entrance to the town; Hellmann Worldwide Logistics took the first unit.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Brewing: Molson Coors (formerly Coors Brewers, makers of Carling and Worthington) brews in the town, alongside Marston's and smaller breweries.
- Food manufacturing: Marmite and Bovril, owned by Unilever, are made in the town.
- Tyre manufacturing: Pirelli has a tyre plant in Burton; production paused for six days from 24 October 2025 citing market conditions.
- Warehousing and distribution: Distribution centres for firms including B&Q, Boots, DHL, Amazon and Clipper.
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
Burton upon Trent is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Staffordshire 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 town centre sits in conservation areas, including King Edward Place and Burton No. 2 and 3 Town Centre.
- Green belt (East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire) lies within about 4 km of the town centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, green belt explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Burton upon Trent could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 958 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 95,800 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,094 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,437 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,531 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 Burton upon Trent 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 East Staffordshire
At the end of 2025, East Staffordshire had 3,362 solar PV installations with 62.5 MW of capacity, up 18% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Staffordshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Loughborough, about 19 miles away
- Crewe, about 39 miles away
- Corby, about 45 miles away
- Shrewsbury, about 47 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: westmidlands
- quoteddata.com: custodian reit acquires burton upon trent distribution unit
- visitstaffordshire.com: first occupier confirmed for burton gateway
- en.wikipedia.org: Burton upon Trent
- tyrepress.com: pirelli halts uk tyre production for 6 days
- ofgem.gov.uk: appendix 3. east midlands dg constraint map 0
- en.wikipedia.org: Distribution network operator
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- 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 Burton upon Trent?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Burton upon Trent?
About 95,800 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 £17,531 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Burton upon Trent 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
- East Staffordshire3,362 installations, 62.5 MW of solar and about 967 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- West MidlandsNGED connections, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, automotive and metals manufacturing, M6 and M42 logistics, and fruit and hop farming in the west.
- 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.