Key facts
| Council area | Mid Ulster |
| Population | 16,361 (Dungannon settlement, usual residents, Census 2021 (NISRA table CT0046, exact settlement count)) |
| Network operator | NIE Networks |
| Main employment areas | Dungannon Enterprise Centre (Dungannon Enterprise Park); Granville Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 895 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland |
Where businesses are in Dungannon
- Dungannon Enterprise Centre (Dungannon Enterprise Park): Enterprise centre on the Coalisland Road with over 70 businesses in units of 200 to 4,000 sq ft, all with three phase power. Opened in 1991, it is the local enterprise agency for south Tyrone and mid Ulster.
- Granville Industrial Estate: Industrial estate where meat processor Dunbia is listed at Unit 2 in Mid Ulster Council's business directory.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Food processing: Poultry processor Moy Park remains the town's principal employer, and Dunbia runs a major red meat processing and wholesale facility in Dungannon.
- Engineering: Terex opened a new Powerscreen headquarters in Dungannon in March 2024 and employs over 2,000 people across Northern Ireland. In February 2025 Mallaghan, which makes airport ground support equipment, was building a new factory at its Dungannon site and creating 27 roles.
- Manufacturing hub: Manufacturing NI said in March 2024 that Mid Ulster accounts for 20% of Northern Ireland's manufacturing value added and 19% of its manufacturing jobs, and that half of jobs in Mid Ulster depend on the sector.
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
Dungannon is served by NIE Networks, which runs the network across Northern Ireland. Systems connect under the G98/NI and G99/NI process, and there is no Smart Export Guarantee in Northern Ireland, so sizing the system to the power you use on site matters even more. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Dungannon
Planning in Dungannon is decided by Mid Ulster council. Rooftop solar on many non-domestic buildings can go ahead without an application within the Northern Ireland limits; listed buildings need consent.
Points that come up locally:
- Dungannon (Northland) is a conservation area with a published guide, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Dungannon could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 895 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 89,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,036 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,343 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,378 |
| Simple payback | About 5.5 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
- NISEP Commercial Energy Saving Scheme (2026/27): A Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme grant of 20% for commercial and non-domestic properties anywhere in Northern Ireland, with the applicant paying 80%. Measures include solar PV (grant capped at £30,000), boiler replacement, intelligent heating controls and lighting. Applications go to Power NI. The list of schemes covers April 2026 to March 2027. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland.
Solar across Mid Ulster
At the end of 2025, Mid Ulster had 2,776 solar PV installations with 25.7 MW of capacity, up 348% since 2020, according to government figures. The Mid Ulster page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Cookstown, about 10 miles away
- Armagh, about 12 miles away
- Portadown, about 14 miles away
- Craigavon, about 16 miles away
Sources
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 person and household estimates for settlements
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 commissioned table ct0046.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org: Dungannon
- commercialpropertyfinder.nibusinessinfo.co.uk: dungannon enterprise centre dungannon enterprise park 2 coalisland
- dungannonenterprise.com: about dungannon enterprise centre
- midulstercouncil.org: dunbia uk ltd
- executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk: first minister attends official opening powerscreen headquarters
- nichamber.com: kickstart your career at mallaghan open night
- uregni.gov.uk: MNI
- nienetworks.co.uk
- infrastructure-ni.gov.uk: conservation area guides z list
- uregni.gov.uk: NISEP List of Schemes 2026 27 updated
- 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 Dungannon?
NIE Networks. 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 Dungannon?
About 89,500 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 £16,378 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Dungannon 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
- Mid Ulster2,776 installations, 25.7 MW of solar and about 884 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Northern IrelandNIE Networks and the G98/NI and G99/NI process, no Smart Export Guarantee, council-led planning, and the agri-food and manufacturing buildings that suit solar.
- 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.
- Northern IrelandCurrent solar support in Northern Ireland for businesses, community groups, public bodies and farms, plus export, rates, planning and official contacts.
- 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.