Key facts
| Council area | West Lindsey |
| Population | 21,910 (Gainsborough built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Corringham Road Industrial Estate; Somerby Park |
| Indicative yield | About 983 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Gainsborough
- Corringham Road Industrial Estate: Industrial estate that is home to Eminox's emissions control factory on Miller Road, with PING's European headquarters also on Corringham Road.
- Somerby Park: An industrial estate of about 11 acres where Eminox built a 179,000 sq ft factory in 2007 and Meditrade UK planned a distribution centre of over 25,000 square metres in 2022, on land the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan identified for employment growth.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Emissions control engineering (Eminox): Eminox, established in 1978 and based in Gainsborough, designs and makes exhaust aftertreatment systems for heavy duty vehicles and equipment, with a team of over 200 and manufacturing in the UK, Slovakia, North America and India.
- Golf equipment (PING Europe): PING's European headquarters on Corringham Road employs over 250 people across manufacturing, operations, marketing, sales and finance.
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
Gainsborough is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Gainsborough
Gainsborough follows the national planning rules for England, decided by West Lindsey 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:
- Gainsborough has three conservation areas: Gainsborough Town, with 40 listed buildings including the Grade I Old Hall and All Saints Church, Gainsborough Riverside and Gainsborough Britannia Works, so roofs in the centre and along the river need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Gainsborough could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 983 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 98,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,514 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,475 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,989 |
| Simple payback | About 5.0 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 Gainsborough 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 West Lindsey
At the end of 2025, West Lindsey had 5,102 solar PV installations with 59.5 MW of capacity, up -10% since 2020, according to government figures. The West Lindsey page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Retford, about 9 miles away
- Scunthorpe, about 14 miles away
- Worksop, about 16 miles away
- Doncaster, about 17 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- eminox.com
- pingeurope.com: about
- dransfield.co.uk: 10 million manufacturing investment for gainsborough lincolnshire1
- gainsboroughlive.co.uk: european manufacturer might invest in gainsborough and offer
- eddisons.com: plot 1300 somerby way somerby park gainsborough lincolnshire
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: maps of humber freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: gainsborough town
- heritagecheck.co.uk: gainsborough riverside
- heritagecheck.co.uk: gainsborough britannia works
- 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 Gainsborough?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Gainsborough?
About 98,300 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 £17,989 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Gainsborough 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
- West Lindsey5,102 installations, 59.5 MW of solar and about 993 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- 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.