Key facts
| Council area | East Ayrshire |
| Population | 47,064 (Kilmarnock locality, Scotland's Census 2022) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Moorfield Park; Rowallan Business Park; HALO Kilmarnock |
| Indicative yield | About 869 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Kilmarnock
- Moorfield Park: Council-developed business park opened in 2019 with £12 million of Ayrshire Growth Deal funding. Tenants include Scotia Windows and Doors, Hyspec, Dingbro and Kilmarnock Powder Coating Services.
- Rowallan Business Park: Business park where Scottish Enterprise and East Ayrshire Council backed three new flexible industrial units of about 1,000 to 2,700 sqm, shared with Moorfield Park, approved in 2016.
- HALO Kilmarnock: Business innovation park on the former Johnnie Walker bottling site on Hill Street. Its HALO Enterprise and Innovation Hub was completed in 2021, beside Ayrshire College's campus.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Manufacturing: At Moorfield Park, Scotia Windows and Doors secured 183 jobs and engineering firm Hyspec 110 jobs.
- Contact centres and public services: Public service and office work is the largest sector, and Vodafone and Teleperformance run call centres at Rowallan Business Park.
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
Kilmarnock 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 Kilmarnock
Planning in Kilmarnock is decided by East Ayrshire 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:
- The John Finnie Street and Bank Street Outstanding Conservation Area covers the town centre, with over 50 listed buildings including the Category A listed Laigh Kirk. It was designated in 1984 and made Outstanding in 1989.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Kilmarnock could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 869 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 86,900 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,599 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,304 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,903 |
| 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. Cashback of 75% of eligible costs, up to £20,000 for energy efficiency measures and up to £10,000 for heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal, with a maximum of £30,000 per business. Applications are processed on a rolling basis all year round, subject to loan funds. The page says the scheme is not accepting new applications for solar PV projects. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Scotland.
Solar across East Ayrshire
At the end of 2025, East Ayrshire had 4,111 solar PV installations with 13.5 MW of capacity, up 158% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Ayrshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Irvine, about 7 miles away
- Ayr, about 12 miles away
- Ardrossan, about 12 miles away
- Cumnock, about 14 miles away
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: Kilmarnock
- en.wikipedia.org: List of towns and cities in Scotland by
- newsroom.east-ayrshire.gov.uk: cabinet secretary opens moorfield park bringing jobs and
- scottishconstructionnow.com: green light for 7 5m kilmarnock industrial unit
- en.wikipedia.org: HALO Urban Regeneration
- east-ayrshire.gov.uk: planning nspg bank st and john finnie st
- businessenergyscotland.org: sme loan
- 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 Kilmarnock?
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 Kilmarnock?
About 86,900 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 £15,903 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Kilmarnock 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
- East Ayrshire4,111 installations, 13.5 MW of solar and about 855 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.