Key facts
| Council area | Mid Devon |
| Population | 19,710 (Tiverton built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Tiverton Business Park; Howden Industrial Estate; Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension |
| Indicative yield | About 1,019 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Tiverton
- Tiverton Business Park: Business park north of the River Lowman in Tiverton. The council's local plan notes that land south of the river once earmarked for its extension is now allocated for housing.
- Howden Industrial Estate: Industrial estate in west Tiverton near Palmerston Park, named in the council's local plan beside the Howden Court site.
- Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension: A 153 hectare mixed use allocation east of the town in the Mid Devon local plan, which includes 6 net hectares for about 30,000 sq m of commercial floorspace up to 2033.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Technical textiles (Heathcoat Fabrics): Heathcoat Fabrics in Tiverton makes parachute fabric for spacecraft, and in June 2026 NASA, SpaceX and Blue Origin delegates visited the factory, whose fabric was used to land NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars.
- Industrial valve manufacturing (Rotolok): Valve maker Rotolok completed a £1m upgrade of its Tiverton factory and offices in 2024, including a new roof, new cladding and new machining equipment, to improve energy performance.
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
Tiverton is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Tiverton
Tiverton follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Mid Devon 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:
- Tiverton has three conservation areas: the Tiverton Conservation Area in the centre, Blundell's and the Grand Western Canal. Historic England lists the Tiverton Conservation Area as Heritage at Risk, so expect extra scrutiny for visible roof panels in the town centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Tiverton could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,019 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 101,900 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,119 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,529 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,648 |
| 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 Tiverton 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 Mid Devon
At the end of 2025, Mid Devon had 6,540 solar PV installations with 115.0 MW of capacity, up 95% since 2020, according to government figures. The Mid Devon page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Taunton, about 18 miles away
- Exmouth, about 20 miles away
- Bridgwater, about 26 miles away
- Newton Abbot, about 26 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- middevon.gov.uk: local plan review 2013 2033 adopted 11112022 accessible
- bbc.co.uk: c621xnl1p49o
- thebusinessdesk.com: 15603 engineering group completes 1m hq investment
- devon.gov.uk: economy
- gov.uk: maps of plymouth and south devon freeport tax
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- tivertoncivicsoc.org.uk: tivertons conservation areas
- 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 Tiverton?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South West 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 Tiverton?
About 101,900 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 £18,648 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Tiverton 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
- Mid Devon6,540 installations, 115.0 MW of solar and about 1,012 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.