Key facts
| Council area | North Lanarkshire |
| Population | 33,031 (Motherwell locality, Scotland's Census 2022 (NRS figure as quoted by citypopulation.de)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Distribution, Central and Southern Scotland) |
| Main employment areas | Ravenscraig Enterprise Park; Orbiston Street Industrial Estate (Spruce Court) |
| Indicative yield | About 861 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Scotland |
Where businesses are in Motherwell
- Ravenscraig Enterprise Park: Six acre site at Ravenscraig where the council's development company Fusion Assets started building in February 2026; it is to provide 62,000 sq ft of business, industrial and storage space, with phase one due to finish in November 2026.
- Orbiston Street Industrial Estate (Spruce Court): North Lanarkshire Properties built 14 industrial units at Spruce Court on a former derelict site on the estate, opened in November 2021, with one unit given free to New College Lanarkshire for a start-up scheme.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Car finance (CarMoney): Motherwell based CarMoney, backed by the Peter Vardy Group, was training over 80 people through its CarMoney Academy in August 2025 and aims for £730 million of annual vehicle finance by 2029.
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
Motherwell 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 Motherwell
Planning in Motherwell is decided by North Lanarkshire 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 Hamilton Road Conservation Area in Motherwell, redrawn in 2011, covers properties on Hamilton Road, Avon Street, Malcolm Street, Farm Street, Elm Street and High Road plus Duchess Park, so check whether a building is inside it before planning roof panels.
- The Dalzell House designed landscape, about 94 hectares on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes with the Category A listed Dalzell House, lies about 1.5 miles south east of the town centre, so roofs in its setting may get closer scrutiny.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Motherwell could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 861 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 86,100 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £14,465 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,292 earned |
| Total a year | About £15,756 |
| 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 North Lanarkshire
At the end of 2025, North Lanarkshire had 14,061 solar PV installations with 37.0 MW of capacity, up 283% since 2020, according to government figures. The North Lanarkshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Hamilton, about 2 miles away
- Coatbridge, about 5 miles away
- East Kilbride, about 7 miles away
- Cumbernauld, about 11 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: S52000462 motherwell
- northlanarkshire.gov.uk: new commercial facilities encourage business growth
- northlanarkshire.gov.uk: new industrial units motherwell
- businessinthenews.co.uk: fintech firm launches ai training drive as part
- news.metal.com: 104091391 liberty steel dalzell resumes rolling with slabs
- eurometal.net: libertys dalzell plate mill restarts operations
- gov.uk: maps of glasgow city region investment zone tax
- renfrewshire.gov.uk: tax incentives now available new businesses locating amids
- thegazette.co.uk: E 27019 19
- portal.historicenvironment.scot: GDL00132
- 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 Motherwell?
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 Motherwell?
About 86,100 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 £15,756 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Motherwell 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
- North Lanarkshire14,061 installations, 37.0 MW of solar and about 828 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.