Key facts
| Council area | Rushmoor |
| Population | 60,655 (Farnborough built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Cody Technology Park; Farnborough Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,016 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Farnborough
- Cody Technology Park: A 407 acre campus that QinetiQ sold for £112 million in a sale and leaseback in October 2024. QinetiQ took a 15 year lease on about a third of the park as its head offices, with 96 other tenants in the rest.
- Farnborough Business Park: A 46.5 hectare park owned by Frasers Property with 14 commercial buildings: nine offices, two car showrooms, a mixed office and industrial building and two cafes. In July 2026 a technology services firm took a 10 year lease on 12,371 sq ft of Building 150.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Defence research and engineering (QinetiQ): QinetiQ, a provider of defence and security research, testing and engineering, keeps its group headquarters at Cody Technology Park, and its chief executive said in 2024 that it remained fully committed to Farnborough.
- Business aviation (Farnborough Airport): Farnborough Airport describes itself as the largest business aviation airport in the UK and a RIBA award winning airport.
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
Farnborough is served by SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Farnborough
Farnborough follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Rushmoor 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:
- Rushmoor has nine conservation areas, including Farnborough Hill, Farnborough Street and South Farnborough, and Article 4 directions remove some permitted development rights in some of them, so roof works in those areas may need planning permission.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Farnborough could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,016 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 101,600 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,069 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,524 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,593 |
| Simple payback | About 4.8 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 Farnborough 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 Rushmoor
At the end of 2025, Rushmoor had 1,998 solar PV installations with 10.3 MW of capacity, up 240% since 2020, according to government figures. The Rushmoor page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Aldershot, about 2 miles away
- Bracknell, about 9 miles away
- Basingstoke, about 14 miles away
- High Wycombe, about 24 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- ukpropertyforums.com: qinetiq in 112m deal at cody technology park
- frasersproperty.com: frasers property 10 year technology lease farnborough business
- qinetiq.com: our company
- farnboroughairport.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- altonherald.com: enterprise zone boost for town 171049
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- en.wikipedia.org: Freeports in the United Kingdom
- rushmoor.gov.uk: conservationareas
- 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 Farnborough?
SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Farnborough?
About 101,600 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 £18,593 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Farnborough 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
- Rushmoor1,998 installations, 10.3 MW of solar and about 1,016 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.