Key facts
| Council area | East Suffolk |
| Population | 71,315 (Lowestoft built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | PowerPark; South Lowestoft Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,050 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Lowestoft
- PowerPark: A 24.7 hectare regeneration area covering Lowestoft's port, dock and industrial land, within walking distance of the town centre. East Suffolk Council says it is home to offshore wind developers and operators including Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, SSE, ScottishPower Renewables and Associated British Ports, as well as the OrbisEnergy innovation centre.
- South Lowestoft Industrial Estate: Industrial estate in the south of the town. Phoenix Enterprise Park, a £6.5 million hub of 17 business units built on the site of the former Wessex Foods factory, opened there in 2018.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Frozen food manufacturing (Birds Eye): Nomad Foods' Birds Eye factory, founded in 1949 and covering more than 25 acres, is described as the largest private sector employer in the area. In June 2026 Nomad announced a £2.2 million potato waffle line there, after a £12 million investment in chicken processing, with plans for an on-site wind turbine progressing.
- Offshore wind operations (ScottishPower Renewables): ScottishPower Renewables runs an operations and maintenance base in Lowestoft for the East Anglia ONE wind farm and is opening a second base in PowerPark for East Anglia THREE, for about 100 people. In December 2025 it agreed to use berths at ABP's Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility, which opened in January 2025.
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
Lowestoft 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 Lowestoft
Lowestoft follows the national planning rules for England, decided by East Suffolk 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:
- North Lowestoft Conservation Area, designated in 1973, covers about 37.5 hectares around the historic High Street and holds 53 listed buildings, including the Grade II* 36 High Street, so roofs inside it need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Lowestoft could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,050 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 105,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,640 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,575 earned |
| Total a year | About £19,215 |
| Simple payback | About 4.7 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
We found no council or regional grant for business solar open in Lowestoft 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 East Suffolk
At the end of 2025, East Suffolk had 11,825 solar PV installations with 164.2 MW of capacity, up 22% since 2020, according to government figures. The East Suffolk page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Stowmarket, about 37 miles away
- Ipswich, about 39 miles away
- Felixstowe, about 39 miles away
- Thetford, about 42 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- eastsuffolk.gov.uk: powerpark
- lowestoftjournal.co.uk: phoenix enterprise park lowestoft opens 368528
- foodmanufacture.co.uk: nomad foods is investing over 2m into is
- energyglobal.com: abp and scottishpower renewables to support offshore wind
- gov.uk: maps of freeport east tax sites
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: north lowestoft
- 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 Lowestoft?
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 Lowestoft?
About 105,000 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 £19,215 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Lowestoft 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 Suffolk11,825 installations, 164.2 MW of solar and about 1,084 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.