Key facts
| Council area | Middlesbrough |
| Population | 148,215 (Middlesbrough built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS, rounded to the nearest five)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Northeast licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP); Port of Middlesbrough; Boho Zone (Middlehaven) |
| Indicative yield | About 938 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Middlesbrough
- Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP): A £55m park for manufacturing and research and development firms beside the Riverside Park industrial area on the south bank of the Tees, developed by Chaloner Group with Middlesbrough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Its 180,000 sq ft first phase reached practical completion in June 2020.
- Port of Middlesbrough: AV Dawson's 40 hectare multimodal port estate on the south side of the River Tees, with deep water berths, four rail terminals, warehousing, storage and the Tees Riverside Intermodal Park.
- Boho Zone (Middlehaven): The council's digital and creative business quarter in the Middlehaven regeneration area next to the Rail and Historic Quarter, within the 8.1 hectare St Hilda's area. The Tees Valley Combined Authority committed £20 million towards a £30 million expansion.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Higher education (Teesside University): Teesside University has its main campus in Middlesbrough and was named University of the Year 2025 by Times Higher Education.
- Digital and creative technology: In May 2025 the Tees Valley Combined Authority said Middlesbrough has some 630 businesses in research, development and production across digital technologies, and its Investment Zone money is aimed at the digital and creative sectors.
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
Middlesbrough is served by Northern Powergrid (Northeast 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 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Middlesbrough 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:
- The Middlesbrough Historic Quarter Conservation Area, about 5.7 hectares and designated in 1989, holds 20 listed buildings including the Grade II* Webb House on Zetland Road, so roofs in 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 Middlesbrough could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 938 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 93,800 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,758 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,407 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,165 |
| Simple payback | About 5.2 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 Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough
At the end of 2025, Middlesbrough had 2,876 solar PV installations with 13.4 MW of capacity, up 97% since 2020, according to government figures. The Middlesbrough page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Stockton-on-Tees, about 3 miles away
- Billingham, about 3 miles away
- Thornaby-on-Tees, about 3 miles away
- Redcar, about 7 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- mtdcnc.com: 55m tees advanced manufacturing park reaches practical completion
- portofmiddlesbrough.com
- teesvalley-ca.gov.uk: boho the digital city expansion
- tees.ac.uk: about
- teesvalley-ca.gov.uk: ukreiif day 1 10am wired differently meet the
- business.gov.uk: teesside freeport
- teesvalley-ca.gov.uk: 80m to revive town centres and back business
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- heritagecheck.co.uk: middlesbrough historic quarter
- 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 Middlesbrough?
Northern Powergrid (Northeast 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 Middlesbrough?
About 93,800 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 £17,165 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Middlesbrough 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
- Middlesbrough2,876 installations, 13.4 MW of solar and about 933 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North EastNorthern Powergrid connections, the Tyneside Clean Air Zone, Teesside and Sunderland manufacturing, Tyne and Tees ports, and Northumberland farming.
- 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.