Key facts
| Council area | Dover |
| Population | 28,985 (Deal built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (South Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Deal Business Park; Discovery Park, Sandwich; Betteshanger Colliery Pithead |
| Indicative yield | About 1,106 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Deal
- Deal Business Park: A 2.4 hectare industrial site on the western edge of Deal for business and general industrial use. Dover District Council's 2022 employment site assessment says it needs to be protected, but that local roads make it unsuitable for regular HGV movements.
- Discovery Park, Sandwich: The science park on the former Pfizer site at Sandwich, north of Deal. Kent County Council reported in 2024 that over ten years the number of businesses there rose from five to nearly two hundred and jobs from around 500 to over 3,500.
- Betteshanger Colliery Pithead: A 6.9 hectare site at Betteshanger, near Deal, allocated for business, industrial and storage use. The council's 2022 assessment says it has stayed undeveloped for years, with a small office centre operating nearby.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Tourism and hospitality: Dover District Council's 2020 town audit quoted a 2017 study finding 1,505,000 day trips to Deal with spending of £39.7 million, and 808 full time equivalent jobs in tourism and hospitality plus 373 more indirectly.
- Life sciences (Discovery Park): In May 2024 Asymchem agreed to take over Pfizer's small molecule pilot plant and part of its laboratories at Discovery Park, planning about 100 staff, while Pfizer kept its 450 strong Global Regulatory Affairs Hub there.
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
Deal is served by UK Power Networks (South 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 Deal
Deal follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Dover 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:
- Middle Street in Deal became the first conservation area in Kent in 1968, so roofs in the old town behind the seafront need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Deal could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,106 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 110,600 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £18,581 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,659 earned |
| Total a year | About £20,240 |
| Simple payback | About 4.4 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 Deal 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 Dover
At the end of 2025, Dover had 3,435 solar PV installations with 40.0 MW of capacity, up 29% since 2020, according to government figures. The Dover page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Dover, about 7 miles away
- Ramsgate, about 8 miles away
- Margate, about 12 miles away
- Folkestone, about 14 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- doverdistrictlocalplan.co.uk: appendix 1b helaa 2022 employment site assessments
- democracy.kent.gov.uk: Developing Discovery Park Sandwich Task Force Report
- dover.gov.uk: Deal and Walmer Town Audit v1.0
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- 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 Deal?
UK Power Networks (South 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 Deal?
About 110,600 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 £20,240 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Deal 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
- Dover3,435 installations, 40.0 MW of solar and about 1,149 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South EastTwo network operators, strong south coast yields, Kent horticulture, Thames Valley offices and Solent logistics, and the clean air zones that affect fleets.
- 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.