Key facts
| Council area | Wiltshire |
| Population | 47,690 (Salisbury built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (Southern Electric Power Distribution) |
| Main employment areas | Churchfields Industrial Estate; Sarum Business Park; Harnham Business Park and Harnham Trading Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,043 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Salisbury
- Churchfields Industrial Estate: Industrial estate about 1.3 km west of the city centre.
- Sarum Business Park: Business park about 3.5 km north of the city centre.
- Harnham Business Park and Harnham Trading Estate: Adjoining employment sites at Harnham, about 2 km south west of the centre.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Defence science: Dstl headquarters at Porton Down, near Salisbury.
- Healthcare: Salisbury District Hospital on Odstock Road, a major employer.
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
Salisbury is served by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (Southern Electric Power Distribution). 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 Salisbury
Salisbury follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Wiltshire 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 Salisbury conservation area covers the city centre.
- Cranborne Chase National Landscape lies within about 5 km of the city.
- The New Forest National Park lies within about 10 km of the city.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas, national parks and National Landscapes explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Salisbury could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,043 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 104,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,522 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,565 earned |
| Total a year | About £19,087 |
| Simple payback | About 4.7 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
We found no council or regional grant for business solar open in Salisbury 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 Wiltshire
At the end of 2025, Wiltshire had 22,287 solar PV installations with 621.3 MW of capacity, up 14% since 2020, according to government figures. The Wiltshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Bournemouth, about 24 miles away
- Poole, about 25 miles away
- Bridgwater, about 53 miles away
- Taunton, about 57 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: E06000054 wiltshire
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- gov.uk: defence science and technology laboratory
- salisbury.nhs.uk
- en.wikipedia.org: Salisbury
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- 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 Salisbury?
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (Southern Electric Power Distribution). 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 Salisbury?
About 104,300 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 £19,087 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Salisbury 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
- Wiltshire22,287 installations, 621.3 MW of solar and about 1,031 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.