Key facts
| Council area | Dorset |
| Population | 55,535 (Weymouth built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Granby Industrial Estate and Link Park; Osprey Quay, Portland |
| Indicative yield | About 1,139 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Weymouth
- Granby Industrial Estate and Link Park: Just over 34 hectares at Chickerell on the edge of Weymouth, one of the largest employment sites in the Dorset Council area and the key industrial centre in western Dorset, on the site of a wartime airfield. Its Link Park extension off the Chickerell Link Road has been fully developed, mainly for business, industrial and storage use.
- Osprey Quay, Portland: A site on the south western shore of Portland Harbour which hosted the sailing facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games and is now a mixed use area with a sailing academy, marina and over 11 hectares of business space; the Land Trust manages its flood defences and green space.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Cruise and port (Portland Port): Portland Port hosted a record 64 cruise calls in 2025, bringing nearly 100,000 passengers from 20 lines and putting about £10 million into the local economy.
- Fishing and harbour (Weymouth Harbour): Dorset Council's harbour master reported in September 2025 that commercial berths were almost 100% let, and that the new Fish Landing Quay's chilled catch stores were used mainly by vessels sending catch to Brixham Fish Market.
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
Weymouth is served by SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Weymouth
Weymouth follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Dorset 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 Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area covers about 88.8 hectares and holds 360 listed buildings, two of them Grade I and 13 Grade II*, so roofs across the centre and harbour need more care.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Weymouth could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,139 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 113,900 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £19,135 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,709 earned |
| Total a year | About £20,844 |
| Simple payback | About 4.3 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 Weymouth 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 Dorset
At the end of 2025, Dorset had 17,135 solar PV installations with 476.0 MW of capacity, up 71% since 2020, according to government figures. The Dorset page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Dorchester, about 7 miles away
- Bridport, about 16 miles away
- Poole, about 22 miles away
- Yeovil, about 24 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- planvu.co.uk: cpt5.php
- thelandtrust.org.uk
- cruisebritain.org: twin milestone for portland cruise calls
- moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk: HM Weymouth PMSC Update September 2025
- dorsetlep.co.uk: boost for business as dorset green gains enterprise
- gov.uk: enterprise zones
- gov.uk: investment zones in england
- ukfreeports.campaign.gov.uk
- heritagecheck.co.uk: weymouth town centre
- 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 Weymouth?
SSEN Distribution (Southern Electric Power Distribution 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 Weymouth?
About 113,900 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 £20,844 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Weymouth 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
- Dorset17,135 installations, 476.0 MW of solar and about 1,091 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.