Key facts
| Council area | North Lincolnshire |
| Population | 81,286 (Scunthorpe built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) |
| Main employment areas | Foxhills Industrial Estate; Sawcliffe Industrial Park; Midland Industrial Estate; Scunthorpe steelworks |
| Indicative yield | About 963 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Scunthorpe
- Foxhills Industrial Estate: Industrial estate about 3 km north of the centre, north of the A1077 northern bypass, with many distribution firms.
- Sawcliffe Industrial Park: Industrial park about 1.4 km north of the town centre.
- Midland Industrial Estate: Industrial estate about 1.5 km south east of the town centre.
- Scunthorpe steelworks: British Steel's integrated steelmaking site on Brigg Road, on the east side of the town.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Steel: British Steel's integrated steelmaking site, including its construction steel and rail operations, at Brigg Road.
- Distribution: firms on Foxhills Industrial Park, including Nisa's UK headquarters.
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
Scunthorpe is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe follows the national planning rules for England, decided by North Lincolnshire 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:
- No green belt, National Landscape or national park lies within about 10 km of the town centre.
Our guides on green belt, national parks and National Landscapes explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Scunthorpe could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 963 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 96,300 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,178 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,445 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,623 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 Scunthorpe 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 Lincolnshire
At the end of 2025, North Lincolnshire had 8,414 solar PV installations with 118.8 MW of capacity, up 57% since 2020, according to government figures. The North Lincolnshire page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Grimsby, about 23 miles away
- Harrogate, about 46 miles away
- Huddersfield, about 47 miles away
- Halifax, about 51 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: E06000013 north lincolnshire
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- britishsteel.co.uk: sites locations
- en.wikipedia.org: Scunthorpe
- planning.data.gov.uk: green belt
- planning.data.gov.uk: area of outstanding natural beauty
- planning.data.gov.uk: national park
- 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 Scunthorpe?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire). 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 Scunthorpe?
About 96,300 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 £17,623 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Scunthorpe 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 Lincolnshire8,414 installations, 118.8 MW of solar and about 975 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.