Key facts
| Council area | Harlow |
| Population | 93,580 (Harlow built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Kao Park (London Road South); Harlow Science Park (London Road North); Templefields |
| Indicative yield | About 1,029 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Harlow
- Kao Park (London Road South): Part of the Harlow Enterprise Zone, on the former STC site where fibre optic telecommunications were invented, offering Grade A offices and the Kao Data campus, which the council calls the largest data centre development in the south east of England.
- Harlow Science Park (London Road North): The science park part of the Harlow Enterprise Zone, with space in the Nexus and Modus buildings and the Arise Innovation Hub.
- Templefields: An existing industrial estate in the Harlow Enterprise Zone offering manufacturing space and longer term redevelopment opportunities, with superfast broadband.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Data centres (Kao Data): In December 2023 Kao Data said its second Harlow data centre, the 10MW NVIDIA DGX Ready KLON-02, was complete and running, with scope for several more buildings on the campus.
- Healthcare (Princess Alexandra Hospital): The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust employs around 4,000 staff and serves about 350,000 people in West Essex and East Hertfordshire, from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and sites in Bishop's Stortford and Epping.
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
Harlow is served by UK Power Networks (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 Harlow
Harlow follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Harlow 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:
- Old Harlow Conservation Area, designated in 1969, covers about 16.7 hectares and holds 37 listed buildings, three of them Grade II*, so roofs there need more care.
- Sites in the Harlow Enterprise Zone benefit from simplified planning through Local Development Orders.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Harlow could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,029 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 102,900 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,287 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,544 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,831 |
| 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 Harlow 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 Harlow
At the end of 2025, Harlow had 1,367 solar PV installations with 6.7 MW of capacity, up 88% since 2020, according to government figures. The Harlow page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Bishop's Stortford, about 7 miles away
- Hatfield, about 14 miles away
- Stevenage, about 16 miles away
- Braintree, about 21 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- en.wikipedia.org: Harlow Civic Centre
- harlow.gov.uk: harlow enterprise zone
- itpro.com: kao data expands capacity amid rising data centre
- pah.nhs.uk: who we are
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of thames freeport tax sites
- gov.uk: freeports
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: old harlow
- 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 Harlow?
UK Power Networks (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 Harlow?
About 102,900 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 £18,831 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Harlow 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
- Harlow1,367 installations, 6.7 MW of solar and about 1,035 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East of EnglandUK Power Networks connections, strong yields, the Felixstowe and A14 logistics corridor, arable farming and food processing across Norfolk, Suffolk and the Fens.
- 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.