Key facts
| Council area | Thanet |
| Population | 42,030 (Ramsgate built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | UK Power Networks (South Eastern Power Networks licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Eurokent; Manston Business Park |
| Indicative yield | About 1,103 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Ramsgate
- Eurokent: A 38.6 hectare employment allocation in Ramsgate in the Thanet Local Plan (Policy SP05), with 5.45 hectares left to develop. It is a flexible employment site where a wider range of job creating uses is allowed alongside business, industrial and storage uses.
- Manston Business Park: A 75.2 hectare site next to the former Manston Airport with 42.53 hectares still allocated, which the local plan calls Thanet's flagship site for inward investment. About half the site is owned by East Kent Opportunities, a Kent County Council and Thanet District Council joint venture.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Offshore wind operations (London Array): The 630MW London Array, 175 turbines about 20km off the north Kent coast, is maintained and operated from the Port of Ramsgate.
- Tourism: The Thanet Local Plan says tourism has historically been at the heart of Thanet's economy and continues to be a vitally important part of it, with growth in the creative sector too.
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
Ramsgate is served by UK Power Networks (South 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 Ramsgate
Ramsgate follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Thanet 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:
- Ramsgate Conservation Area covers about 88.3 hectares and holds 336 listed buildings, four of them Grade I, and the town also has the Montefiore and Royal Esplanade conservation areas, so many older roofs need more care.
- Thanet's local plan encourages retrofitting renewable installations, including solar PV, to existing buildings under Policy CC04, as long as there is no adverse impact on heritage assets or their setting.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Ramsgate could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,103 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 110,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £18,530 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,655 earned |
| Total a year | About £20,185 |
| Simple payback | About 4.5 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 Ramsgate 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 Thanet
At the end of 2025, Thanet had 3,371 solar PV installations with 56.5 MW of capacity, up 21% since 2020, according to government figures. The Thanet page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Margate, about 4 miles away
- Deal, about 8 miles away
- Dover, about 15 miles away
- Folkestone, about 20 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- thanet.gov.uk: Thanet Local Plan July 2020 1 1
- londonarray.com
- democracy.kent.gov.uk: Developing Discovery Park Sandwich Task Force Report
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: ramsgate
- heritagecheck.co.uk: sitemap conservation areas.xml
- 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 Ramsgate?
UK Power Networks (South 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 Ramsgate?
About 110,300 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 £20,185 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Ramsgate 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
- Thanet3,371 installations, 56.5 MW of solar and about 1,117 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- South EastTwo network operators, strong south coast yields, Kent horticulture, Thames Valley offices and Solent logistics, and the clean air zones that affect fleets.
- 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.