Key facts
| Council area | North Yorkshire |
| Population | 16,590 (Ripon built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (North East licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Canalside Business Park; Dallamires Lane; Potter Space Ripon (Melmerby) |
| Indicative yield | About 948 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Ripon
- Canalside Business Park: Canalside Developments' 25,000 sq ft development opposite Ripon racecourse, off Navigation Way, on land once used to store Econ Engineering's gritter hire fleet. It was built for start ups, micro businesses and small firms to ease a shortage of small industrial units.
- Dallamires Lane: An established employment area in Ripon and home to the head office of Ripon Farm Services. In April 2026 cable installer FB Taylor applied to build a new headquarters with offices, workshop and storage next to it.
- Potter Space Ripon (Melmerby): Potter Space's 60 acre business park at Melmerby near Ripon, close to the A1(M). In 2022 it won permission for three more units totalling 70,000 sq ft, with solar panels, EV charging points and cycle stores.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Cable installation (FB Taylor): FB Taylor, a cable installation firm in Ripon since the 1970s, employs about 160 people; its accounts to August 2024 showed 159 staff and turnover of £17.07 million.
- Agricultural machinery (Ripon Farm Services): Ripon Farm Services, established in 1982 and headquartered on Dallamires Lane, runs 13 branches selling John Deere and other farm machinery.
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
Ripon is served by Northern Powergrid (North East 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 Ripon
Ripon follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North Yorkshire 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 Ripon Conservation Area covers about 120.2 hectares and holds 252 listed buildings, three of them Grade I including Ripon Cathedral, so roofs across the historic centre need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Ripon could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 948 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 94,800 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,926 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,422 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,348 |
| 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 Ripon 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 North Yorkshire
At the end of 2025, North Yorkshire had 25,856 solar PV installations with 339.9 MW of capacity, up 110% since 2020, according to government figures. The North Yorkshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Harrogate, about 10 miles away
- Northallerton, about 14 miles away
- Skipton, about 24 miles away
- Keighley, about 24 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- thestrayferret.co.uk: canalside business park
- thestrayferret.co.uk: major ripon employer reveals plans for new headquarters
- thestrayferret.co.uk: eco business park near ripon set for expansion
- thebusinessdesk.com: yorkshire
- riponfarmservices.com
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- heritagecheck.co.uk: ripon
- 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 Ripon?
Northern Powergrid (North East 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 Ripon?
About 94,800 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 £17,348 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Ripon 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 Yorkshire25,856 installations, 339.9 MW of solar and about 948 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- Yorkshire and the HumberNorthern Powergrid connections, Sheffield and Bradford clean air zones, Humber ports and industry, M62 and M1 logistics, and East Riding arable 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.