Key facts
| Council area | North East Lincolnshire |
| Population | 85,911 (Grimsby built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) |
| Main employment areas | Europarc; Port of Grimsby; Grimsby Future Park; Moody Lane / Energy Park Way |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Humber Enterprise Zone (North East Lincolnshire sites: 189 hectares across 6 sites) |
| Indicative yield | About 993 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Grimsby
- Europarc: Grimsby's flagship business park and Food Enterprise Zone at the heart of the UK's biggest seafood cluster, home to the Humber Seafood Institute; Europarc III has plots of 1 to 17 acres.
- Port of Grimsby: Working docks that host the offshore wind operations and maintenance cluster (Ørsted, E.ON, RWE, Siemens Gamesa, RES) and the Grimsby Seafood Village of 21 processing units.
- Grimsby Future Park: 89 acre development site suited to port-centric manufacturing, logistics and low-carbon energy production.
- Moody Lane / Energy Park Way: 89 acre level greenfield employment site with private HV power, a water abstraction licence and on-site effluent treatment.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Food and seafood processing: about 500 food-related firms, including Young's Seafood (headquartered in Grimsby with three local production sites), Hain Daniels and New England Seafood.
- Offshore wind operations and maintenance at the Port of Grimsby, serving the Hornsea 1 and 2 wind farms.
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
- Humber Enterprise Zone (North East Lincolnshire sites: 189 hectares across 6 sites)
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
Grimsby is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Grimsby
Grimsby follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North East Lincolnshire 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:
- The Central Grimsby conservation area covers the town centre.
- Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape lies within about 10 km of the town.
- Humberside Airport is under 30 minutes' drive from Grimsby, so large arrays nearby may need a glint and glare check.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, national parks and National Landscapes, airports, glint and glare explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Grimsby could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 993 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 99,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,682 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,490 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,172 |
| 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 Grimsby 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 North East Lincolnshire
At the end of 2025, North East Lincolnshire had 3,849 solar PV installations with 62.9 MW of capacity, up 94% since 2020, according to government figures. The North East Lincolnshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Scunthorpe, about 23 miles away
- Harrogate, about 66 miles away
- Huddersfield, about 70 miles away
- Loughborough, about 72 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: E06000012 north east lincolnshire
- investnel.co.uk: enterprise zones
- investnel.co.uk: energy renewables
- investnel.co.uk: food manufacturing
- investnel.co.uk: funding
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- 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 Grimsby?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Grimsby?
About 99,300 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 £18,172 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Grimsby 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
- North East Lincolnshire3,849 installations, 62.9 MW of solar and about 1,019 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Yorkshire and the HumberNorthern Powergrid connections, Sheffield and Bradford clean air zones, Humber ports and industry, M62 and M1 logistics, and East Riding arable farming.
- 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.