Key facts
| Council area | North Yorkshire |
| Population | 19,475 (Selby built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Olympia Park; Prospect Centre; Access 63 |
| 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 Selby
- Olympia Park: A planned major new employment site on the edge of Selby town centre for small and medium businesses. North Yorkshire Council's Town Investment Plan for Selby describes it as an ambitious scheme that would create and safeguard thousands of jobs.
- Prospect Centre: North Yorkshire Council's 28 small workshop units off the A1041 Bawtry Road just outside the town centre, with communal kitchen and toilets, free parking and a five minute walk to the bus and rail stations.
- Access 63: An industrial estate in Selby where, in December 2020, consent was given for 30 speculative industrial and distribution units totalling 66,000 sq ft, from 1,000 to 5,000 sq ft, on its last undeveloped plot.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Power generation (Drax Power Station): Drax Power Station near Selby runs four 645MW biomass units, produces about 5% of the UK's electricity and 10% of its renewable power, and employs around 1,000 people directly.
- Wheat processing (Sedamyl UK): Sedamyl UK, a wheat processing agribusiness based in Selby, was placed in the top five of the York and North Yorkshire Top 100 businesses published in July 2024, with Drax Group first.
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
Selby is served by Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Selby
Selby 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 Selby Town Conservation Area covers about 37.5 hectares and holds 102 listed buildings, including the Grade I Selby Abbey, so roofs in the town 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 Selby 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 Selby 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
- Goole, about 10 miles away
- Castleford, about 12 miles away
- Doncaster, about 18 miles away
- Wakefield, about 19 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- northyorks.gov.uk: vision selby
- northyorks.gov.uk: selby area industrial units
- thebusinessdesk.com: yorkshire
- drax.com: drax power station
- yorksj.ac.uk: yny top 100
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- gov.uk: maps of humber freeport tax sites
- heritagecheck.co.uk: selby town
- 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 Selby?
Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire 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 Selby?
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 Selby 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.