Key facts
| Council area | Teignbridge |
| Population | 29,650 (Newton Abbot built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Heathfield Industrial Estate; Brunel Industrial Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,077 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Newton Abbot
- Heathfield Industrial Estate: The largest of Teignbridge's 32 industrial estates, covering some 95 acres between Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey, where Teignbridge District Council runs the Teignbridge Business Centre. In 2024 Devon County Council and Teignbridge were awarded £99,851 for a decarbonisation plan for the estate looking at options including solar PV.
- Brunel Industrial Estate: Industrial estate on the east side of Newton Abbot railway station, where Teignbridge District Council planned a new station entrance to improve access from the estate.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Gas turbine power generation (Centrax): Centrax, an independent company headquartered in Newton Abbot with a facility in Ohio, builds gas turbine generator packages using Siemens Energy turbine technology and provides life cycle support.
- Ball clay (Sibelco): Sibelco's Preston Manor Works on Chudleigh Road, Kingsteignton, on the edge of Newton Abbot, produces mainly ball clay for the ceramics, tiles, engobes and glazes industries.
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
Newton Abbot is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Teignbridge 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:
- Newton Abbot has two small conservation areas, Wolborough Street (about 3.8 hectares, designated in 2010) and Wolborough Hill (about 19.9 hectares), so check whether a building is inside one before planning roof panels near the town centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Newton Abbot could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,077 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 107,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £18,094 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,616 earned |
| Total a year | About £19,709 |
| Simple payback | About 4.6 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 Newton Abbot 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 Teignbridge
At the end of 2025, Teignbridge had 6,669 solar PV installations with 50.1 MW of capacity, up 43% since 2020, according to government figures. The Teignbridge page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Totnes, about 7 miles away
- Exmouth, about 11 miles away
- Tiverton, about 26 miles away
- Bridport, about 40 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- teignbridge.gov.uk: key business locations
- solarpowerportal.co.uk: devon county council funding solar decarbonisation
- teignmouth-today.co.uk: residents will benefit from new station entrance 265957
- centraxgt.com
- sibelco.com: kingsteignton
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: maps of plymouth and south devon freeport tax
- gov.uk: maps of freeports and freeport tax sites
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: External HMRC IZs Information Pack FEB 26
- heritagecheck.co.uk: newton abbot wolborough street
- heritagecheck.co.uk: wolborough hill
- 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 Newton Abbot?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Newton Abbot?
About 107,700 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 £19,709 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Newton Abbot 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
- Teignbridge6,669 installations, 50.1 MW of solar and about 1,036 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South WestThe strongest yields in mainland Britain, a network with limited export capacity in places, Bristol and Bath clean air zones, dairy farming and Severnside logistics.
- 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.