Key facts
| Council area | Cumberland |
| Population | 21,275 (Workington built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | Electricity North West (North West licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Lillyhall Business Park and Industrial Estate; Port of Workington |
| Indicative yield | About 924 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in England |
Where businesses are in Workington
- Lillyhall Business Park and Industrial Estate: Major strategic employment site about 4km south east of Workington town centre, covering some 40 hectares of mixed commercial and education space with around 100 businesses and education facilities, including the Lakes College campus.
- Port of Workington: A 2.6-hectare port handling up to 500,000 tonnes of cargo a year. Through the Workington Town Deal, Cumberland Council is remediating about 8.5 hectares at the port and the adjacent employment site for industrial, storage and distribution uses, and is delivering a £6 million Logistics and Clean Energy Hub there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Paperboard manufacturing (Holmen): Holmen's Workington mill makes Incada folding boxboard; in March 2025 it was awarded an EcoVadis Platinum rating, and Holmen's 2025 half-year report noted a maintenance shutdown at the mill.
- Clean energy and nuclear skills: Cumberland Council says Workington is growing its economy by focusing on its strengths in manufacturing and clean energy, and the Lakes College campus at Lillyhall includes a construction and civils skills centre and the National College for Nuclear.
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
Workington is served by Electricity North West (North 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 Workington
Workington follows the national planning rules for England, decided by Cumberland 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:
- Workington has three conservation areas: Portland Square and Brow Top (both 1974) and St Michaels (2002). Cumberland Council says that within conservation areas it expects special attention to be paid to the design details of new development.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Workington could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 924 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 92,400 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,523 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,386 earned |
| Total a year | About £16,909 |
| Simple payback | About 5.3 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 Workington 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 Cumberland
At the end of 2025, Cumberland had 8,150 solar PV installations with 86.0 MW of capacity, up 35% since 2020, according to government figures. The Cumberland page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Whitehaven, about 7 miles away
- Dumfries, about 30 miles away
- Carlisle, about 30 miles away
- Penrith, about 32 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- cumberland.gov.uk: lillyhall
- cumberland.gov.uk: port workington
- cumberland.gov.uk: workington
- ondemand.tappi.org: carbon free manufacturing
- inderes.fi: holmens interim report january june 2025
- cumberland.gov.uk: conservation areas allerdale
- 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 Workington?
Electricity North West (North 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 Workington?
About 92,400 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 £16,909 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Workington 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
- Cumberland8,150 installations, 86.0 MW of solar and about 819 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- North WestTwo network operators, realistic northern yields, Trafford Park, the Port of Liverpool, Cheshire chemicals and Cumbrian farming, and Greater Manchester's non-charging clean air plan.
- 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.