Key facts
| Council area | Charnwood |
| Population | 64,884 (Census 2021 population of the Loughborough built-up area (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands) |
| Main employment areas | Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP); Charnwood Campus |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone (covers LUSEP and Charnwood Campus) |
| Indicative yield | About 982 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Loughborough
- Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP): Science park by the university campus for research led and high growth businesses, part of the town's enterprise zone.
- Charnwood Campus: Former AstraZeneca site with laboratories, specialist manufacturing space and offices for biomedical and pharmaceutical firms; the UK's first Life Science Opportunity Zone.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Higher education and research: Loughborough University and Loughborough College are major employers.
- Life sciences: Charnwood Campus hosts biomedical and pharmaceutical businesses in labs and specialist manufacturing space.
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
- Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone (covers LUSEP and Charnwood Campus)
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
Loughborough is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Loughborough
Loughborough follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Charnwood 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:
- Loughborough has eight conservation areas (Ashby Road, Cemetery, Church Gate, Emmanuel Church, Leicester Road, Queen's Park, Shelthorpe and Victoria Street), with boundaries reviewed in 2018; the town centre falls in Church Gate.
- The university campus is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, which has applied for UNESCO Global Geopark status.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Loughborough could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 982 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 98,200 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,498 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,473 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,971 |
| 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 Loughborough 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 Charnwood
At the end of 2025, Charnwood had 4,656 solar PV installations with 86.9 MW of capacity, up 15% since 2020, according to government figures. The Charnwood page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Burton upon Trent, about 19 miles away
- Corby, about 29 miles away
- Kettering, about 33 miles away
- Northampton, about 40 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: eastmidlands
- llbsp.org.uk: enterprise zones
- en.wikipedia.org: Loughborough
- gov.uk: leicester and loughborough enterprise zone will rev up
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- ofgem.gov.uk: appendix 3. east midlands dg constraint map 0
- en.wikipedia.org: Distribution network operator
- charnwood.gov.uk: generalinformationonconservation
- planning.data.gov.uk
- lboro.ac.uk: university announces agreement with local geopark
- 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 Loughborough?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands). 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 Loughborough?
About 98,200 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 £17,971 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Loughborough 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
- Charnwood4,656 installations, 86.9 MW of solar and about 974 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- East MidlandsNGED connections, Golden Triangle logistics, Lincolnshire farming and food processing, Derby manufacturing and the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy.
- 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.