Key facts
| Council area | East Devon |
| Population | 35,500 (Exmouth built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Liverton Business Park; Merchant Avenue business units |
| Indicative yield | About 1,061 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Exmouth
- Liverton Business Park: Clinton Devon Estates' business park on the edge of Exmouth, home to local, regional and national businesses; current tenants include Toolstation, Howdens and The Range. Six units opened in 2017 and the Harpford phase added five more units totalling 7,500 sq ft.
- Merchant Avenue business units: Four light industrial units of about 850 sq ft each just off Salterton Road, built by McCarthy Stone under a Section 106 agreement and later transferred to East Devon District Council. All four were occupied by July 2026, by firms including joinery, flooring and creative workshops.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Retail, hospitality and health and social care: East Devon District Council says Exmouth, the district's largest town, has a greater concentration of jobs in retail, hospitality (accommodation and food) and health and social care, in line with other South West coastal towns.
- Defence training (CTCRM Lympstone): The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone, beside Exmouth, runs the Royal Marines' 32 week commando training course.
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
Exmouth is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Exmouth
Exmouth follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Devon 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:
- Exmouth Conservation Area, designated on 3 January 1973, covers about 38.9 hectares and holds 84 listed buildings, including the Grade II* Holy Trinity Church, so older roofs in the centre and on 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 Exmouth could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,061 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 106,100 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,825 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,592 earned |
| Total a year | About £19,416 |
| Simple payback | About 4.6 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 Exmouth 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 Devon
At the end of 2025, East Devon had 8,174 solar PV installations with 140.7 MW of capacity, up 27% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Devon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Newton Abbot, about 11 miles away
- Totnes, about 17 miles away
- Tiverton, about 20 miles away
- Bridport, about 30 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- clintondevon.com: economic boost for exmouth as new commercial units
- clintondevon.com: commercial
- devonairradio.com: new exmouth business units snapped up by local
- eastdevon.gov.uk: exmouth an overview
- royalnavy.mod.uk: commando initial training
- devon.gov.uk: infrastructure
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of plymouth and south devon freeport tax
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: exmouth
- 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 Exmouth?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Exmouth?
About 106,100 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 £19,416 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Exmouth 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 Devon8,174 installations, 140.7 MW of solar and about 1,050 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South WestThe strongest yields in mainland Britain, a network with limited export capacity in places, Bristol and Bath clean air zones, dairy farming and Severnside logistics.
- 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.