Key facts
| Council area | Folkestone and Hythe |
| Population | 51,995 (Folkestone built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (South Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Shearway Business Park; Cheriton Parc; Park Farm Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,137 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Folkestone
- Shearway Business Park: Business park off Shearway Road in Cheriton, protected for business uses in the council's 2020 local plan with 11,650 sq m allocated; the council's employment review called it a significant site of high quality modern office and industrial units with low vacancy.
- Cheriton Parc: Business estate in Cheriton close to Junction 12 of the M20 and the Eurotunnel terminal, allocated for 15,000 sq m of office space in the council's 2020 local plan.
- Park Farm Industrial Estate: Established industrial estate in north Folkestone, where the council's 2020 local plan allocates the former Silver Spring site on Park Farm for 10,000 sq m of business floorspace.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Channel Tunnel (Getlink and Eurotunnel): Eurotunnel, part of Getlink, runs truck and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais; in 2025 its shuttles carried 1,163,124 trucks and 2,234,093 passenger vehicles.
- Tourism (Folkestone Harbour Arm): The Harbour Arm is a year round visitor attraction, open daily for promenading, with traders and space in the old Harbour Station.
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
Folkestone 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 Folkestone
Folkestone follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Folkestone and Hythe 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:
- Policy CC1 of the council's 2020 local plan requires new non-residential buildings of 1,000 sq m or more to cut carbon emissions by at least 10% through on-site renewable or low carbon technology, with photovoltaic panels named as an option.
- Several sites in the town centre fall in or beside the Leas and Bayle Conservation Area, which the local plan says must be given regard, so roofs there need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Folkestone could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,137 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 113,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £19,102 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,706 earned |
| Total a year | About £20,807 |
| Simple payback | About 4.3 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 Folkestone 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 Folkestone and Hythe
At the end of 2025, Folkestone and Hythe had 3,927 solar PV installations with 38.5 MW of capacity, up 36% since 2020, according to government figures. The Folkestone and Hythe page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Dover, about 7 miles away
- Ashford, about 14 miles away
- Deal, about 14 miles away
- Ramsgate, about 20 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- folkestone-hythe.gov.uk: cd109 fhdc places and policies local plan 2020
- echanges.dila.gouv.fr: FCBWR166091 20260108
- folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk: faq
- democracy.kent.gov.uk: Developing Discovery Park Sandwich Task Force Report
- 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 Folkestone?
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 Folkestone?
About 113,700 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 £20,807 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Folkestone 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
- Folkestone and Hythe3,927 installations, 38.5 MW of solar and about 1,117 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.