Key facts
| Council area | Falkirk |
| Population | 16,016 (Grangemouth locality, Census 2022) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Earls Gate Park; Wholeflats; Calachem site; Port of Grangemouth |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Forth Green Freeport (Grangemouth tax site, the largest in the freeport) |
| Indicative yield | About 867 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Grangemouth
- Earls Gate Park: Industrial development sites of 1 to 10 acres on Earls Road, inside Scotland's chemical cluster. Steam, gas, nitrogen and electricity from an energy-from-waste plant are supplied on site.
- Wholeflats: A Forth Green Freeport site being prepared for a proposed Grangemouth Sustainable Manufacturing Campus.
- Calachem site: About 20 acres of brownfield land being prepared as a serviced industrial area, backed by £5.5 million of freeport funding.
- Port of Grangemouth: Forth Ports' 402-acre port and logistics hub, Scotland's largest container port.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Petrochemicals: INEOS Grangemouth: The UK's last ethylene cracker, with about 830,000 tonnes a year of nameplate capacity. The UK government and INEOS agreed a £150 million package in December 2025 to secure it.
- Ports and logistics: Forth Ports: Scotland's largest container port. A further £8 million investment was announced in 2026.
- Specialty chemicals cluster: CalaChem, FUJIFILM and Syngenta operate next to Earls Gate Park. Syngenta has announced plans to stop operations at its Grangemouth site by the end of 2027.
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.
Enterprise, investment and freeport zones
- Forth Green Freeport (Grangemouth tax site, the largest in the freeport)
These zones can bring business rates relief or enhanced capital allowances for eligible firms on qualifying sites; check the current terms with the zone before relying on them.
Grid connection
Grangemouth is served by SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland). 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 Grangemouth
Planning in Grangemouth is decided by Falkirk council under Scotland's own system. Non-domestic rooftop solar is often permitted development under the Scottish rules, but not on listed buildings, in National Scenic Areas or within 3 km of an aerodrome.
Points that come up locally:
- Much of the town is low-lying and at flood risk. The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, which aims to protect about 1,200 businesses and other properties, is still going through its statutory process.
Our planning permission guide sets out the rules.
What a business roof in Grangemouth could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 867 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 86,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,566 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,301 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,866 |
| Simple payback | About 5.7 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
- Business Energy Scotland SME Loan: Interest-free loans of £1,000 to £130,000 for energy efficiency, with cashback of up to £30,000. Applications are taken on a rolling basis while funds last. Not currently accepting solar PV applications. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Scotland.
Solar across Falkirk
At the end of 2025, Falkirk had 4,025 solar PV installations with 14.6 MW of capacity, up 183% since 2020, according to government figures. The Falkirk page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Livingston, about 12 miles away
- East Kilbride, about 25 miles away
- Perth, about 28 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000293 grangemouth
- ryden.co.uk: 12404 industrial development sites earls gate park earls
- falkirk.gov.uk: work under way to prepare grangemouth for freeport
- scottishfinancialreview.com: grangemouth gets investment to mark 60th year
- scottishbusinessnews.net: uk and ineos strike 150 million deal to
- chemistryworld.com: 4024349.article
- falkirk.gov.uk: funding boost of 16m for grangemouth flood protection
- businessenergyscotland.org: sme loan
- en.wikipedia.org: Grangemouth
- 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 Grangemouth?
SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland). 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 Grangemouth?
About 86,700 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 £15,866 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Grangemouth 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
- Falkirk4,025 installations, 14.6 MW of solar and about 871 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- ScotlandSP Energy Networks and SSEN connections, NPF4 and Scottish permitted development, the four city low emission zones, the Scottish rates exemption and realistic yields.
- 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.
- ScotlandCurrent solar support in Scotland for businesses, community groups, public bodies, schools and farms, with 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.