Key facts
| Council area | Northumberland |
| Population | 28,843 (Census 2021 population of the Cramlington built-up area (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Northeast) |
| Main employment areas | Nelson Park Industrial Estate; North Nelson Industrial Estate; Bassington Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 967 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Cramlington
- Nelson Park Industrial Estate: Established estate of workshop and warehouse units with shared gated compounds and CCTV, with road links to the A1, A189 spine road and A19.
- North Nelson Industrial Estate: Industrial estate including Atley Business Park, about 3 miles from the A19/A1 junction and close to Cramlington station.
- Bassington Industrial Estate: Industrial estate in Cramlington, home to Daikin Applied UK's air handling unit factory.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Organon's Cramlington site makes, packs and tests tablet medicines for 140 countries and employs about 600 people.
- HVAC manufacturing: Daikin Applied UK runs an air handling unit factory of over 30,000 m2 at Bassington Industrial Estate, on a site making HVAC equipment since 1966.
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
Cramlington is served by Northern Powergrid (Northeast). 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 Cramlington
Cramlington follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Northumberland 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:
- Green belt (Northumberland) lies within about 2 km of the town centre.
- Newcastle International Airport is about 8 miles to the south west.
Our guides on green belt, airports, glint and glare explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Cramlington could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 967 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 96,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,246 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,451 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,696 |
| 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 Cramlington 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 Northumberland
At the end of 2025, Northumberland had 14,650 solar PV installations with 64.7 MW of capacity, up 114% since 2020, according to government figures. The Northumberland page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Washington, Tyne and Wear, about 13 miles away
- Newton Aycliffe, about 32 miles away
- Carlisle, about 55 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: northeastengland
- daikinapplied.uk: about us
- jobs.organon.com: cramlington
- en.wikipedia.org: Distribution network operator
- planning.data.gov.uk
- northeast-ca.gov.uk: north east investment zone
- 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 Cramlington?
Northern Powergrid (Northeast). 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 Cramlington?
About 96,700 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 £17,696 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Cramlington 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
- Northumberland14,650 installations, 64.7 MW of solar and about 905 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North EastNorthern Powergrid connections, the Tyneside Clean Air Zone, Teesside and Sunderland manufacturing, Tyne and Tees ports, and Northumberland farming.
- 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.