Key facts
| Council area | Mid and East Antrim |
| Population | 18,794 (Larne settlement, usual residents, Census 2021 (NISRA table CT0046, exact settlement count)) |
| Network operator | NIE Networks |
| Main employment areas | Port of Larne Business Park; Ballyloran Industrial Estate; Bank Road and Willowbank business parks (LEDCOM) |
| Indicative yield | About 897 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland |
Where businesses are in Larne
- Port of Larne Business Park: Business park on Redlands Road by Larne Harbour, where about 12 acres of industrial zoned land has been marketed for sale; neighbouring occupiers include Terumo BCT, AM Nextday, an Asda distribution centre and Haldane Fisher.
- Ballyloran Industrial Estate: Modern industrial estate on Ballyboley Road of about 26,161 sq ft on a 2.9 acre site, with three standalone warehouses and office buildings, offered for sale as a part-let investment in November 2024.
- Bank Road and Willowbank business parks (LEDCOM): LEDCOM, the local enterprise agency, provides managed offices and industrial units at Bank Road Business Park and Willowbank Business Park in Larne.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Ferry port (Port of Larne): The Port of Larne operates 24 hours a day and handles over 200,000 freight units and over 520,000 passengers a year, with vessels up to 185 metres long.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing (Terumo BCT): Terumo BCT, a global blood management and cell therapy company, was recruiting a production team leader for pharmaceutical manufacturing at its Larne site in October 2026.
- Heavy engineering (Caterpillar): In October and November 2026 production operative, welder, CNC machinist and mechanical fitter roles were being advertised at Caterpillar's Larne plant, on a four day week.
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
Larne is served by NIE Networks, which runs the network across Northern Ireland. Systems connect under the G98/NI and G99/NI process, and there is no Smart Export Guarantee in Northern Ireland, so sizing the system to the power you use on site matters even more. See G99 and DNO applications.
Planning in Larne
Planning in Larne is decided by Mid and East Antrim council. Rooftop solar on many non-domestic buildings can go ahead without an application within the Northern Ireland limits; listed buildings need consent.
Points that come up locally:
- None of the five conservation areas Mid and East Antrim Council lists (Carnlough, Carrickfergus, Glenarm, Gracehill and Whitehead) is in Larne, so conservation area rules rarely affect its business roofs.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Larne could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 897 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 89,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,070 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,346 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,415 |
| Simple payback | About 5.5 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
- NISEP Commercial Energy Saving Scheme (2026/27): A Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme grant of 20% for commercial and non-domestic properties anywhere in Northern Ireland, with the applicant paying 80%. Measures include solar PV (grant capped at £30,000), boiler replacement, intelligent heating controls and lighting. Applications go to Power NI. The list of schemes covers April 2026 to March 2027. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Northern Ireland.
Solar across Mid and East Antrim
At the end of 2025, Mid and East Antrim had 2,698 solar PV installations with 28.1 MW of capacity, up 113% since 2020, according to government figures. The Mid and East Antrim page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Carrickfergus, about 9 miles away
- Bangor, about 14 miles away
- Antrim, about 18 miles away
- Ballymena, about 19 miles away
Sources
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 person and household estimates for settlements
- nisra.gov.uk: census 2021 commissioned table ct0046.xlsx
- okt.co.uk: port of larne business park redlands road
- commercialpropertyfinder.nibusinessinfo.co.uk: ballyloran industrial estate ballyboley road larne
- ledcom.org
- portoflarne.co.uk
- tarve.co.uk: production team leader terumo bct 49fbd5b8
- randstad.co.uk: larne
- nienetworks.co.uk
- midandeastantrim.gov.uk: conservation areas
- uregni.gov.uk: NISEP List of Schemes 2026 27 updated
- 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 Larne?
NIE Networks. 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 Larne?
About 89,700 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 £16,415 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Larne 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
- Mid and East Antrim2,698 installations, 28.1 MW of solar and about 858 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Northern IrelandNIE Networks and the G98/NI and G99/NI process, no Smart Export Guarantee, council-led planning, and the agri-food and manufacturing buildings that suit solar.
- 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.
- Northern IrelandCurrent solar support in Northern Ireland for businesses, community groups, public bodies and farms, plus export, 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.