Key facts
| Council area | Somerset |
| Population | 61,674 (Taunton built-up area, Census 2021 (ONS 2022 built-up area boundaries)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West) |
| Main employment areas | Nexus 25; Priorswood Industrial Estate; Blackbrook Business Park; Galmington Trading Estate |
| Indicative yield | About 1,024 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Taunton
- Nexus 25: Strategic employment site at junction 25 of the M5, with a Local Development Order adopted in 2018, planned for offices, light industrial units and warehouses and more than 3,500 jobs.
- Priorswood Industrial Estate: Industrial estate about 2 km north east of the town centre.
- Blackbrook Business Park: Business park about 3 km east of the town centre.
- Galmington Trading Estate: Trading estate about 1.5 km west of the town centre.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Government and marine data: the UK Hydrographic Office at Admiralty Way.
- Healthcare: Musgrove Park Hospital, the acute hospital for around 340,000 people.
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
Taunton is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West). 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 Taunton
Taunton follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Somerset 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 Castle Green and Bath Place conservation area covers part of the town centre.
- Blackdown Hills and Quantock Hills National Landscapes both lie within about 5 km of the town.
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 Taunton could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,024 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 102,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,203 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,536 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,739 |
| Simple payback | About 4.8 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 Taunton 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 Somerset
At the end of 2025, Somerset had 28,561 solar PV installations with 566.2 MW of capacity, up 23% since 2020, according to government figures. The Somerset page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Bridgwater, about 9 miles away
- Barry, about 28 miles away
- Port Talbot, about 50 miles away
- Poole, about 53 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: E06000066 somerset
- somerset.gov.uk: nexus 25 employment site
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- openstreetmap.org
- gov.uk: uk hydrographic office
- somersetft.nhs.uk: musgrove park hospital
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- planning.data.gov.uk
- somerset.gov.uk: carbon reduction grants
- 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 Taunton?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West). 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 Taunton?
About 102,400 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 £18,739 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Taunton 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
- Somerset28,561 installations, 566.2 MW of solar and about 1,036 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.