The short version
In Wales, the main support for business solar is loan finance rather than grants. Businesses can apply to the Green Business Loan Scheme, farms to the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme, and public bodies and community groups can get free help from the Welsh Government Energy Service. This reflects official pages we checked in November 2026.
Businesses
Green Business Loan Scheme
The Development Bank of Wales runs the Green Business Loan Scheme with the Welsh Government. Its page lists solar PV among typical eligible renewables projects. Key features:
- Patient capital, with upfront capital repayment holidays and a loan term linked to the project's payback.
- Discounted fixed interest rates for energy efficiency measures and low carbon heat.
- Open to limited companies, sole traders and partnerships based in Wales that have traded for at least two years and filed at least one set of annual accounts.
In August 2025 the Welsh Government said the scheme had been extended to £20 million, with funding available until 2028.
TODO for the site owner: Confirm the current loan size range and whether the discounted interest rate applies to solar PV on the Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loan Scheme key information document.
Business Wales
Business Wales works with the Development Bank on the scheme. According to the Development Bank, a Business Wales Resource Efficiency Advisor can provide a fully funded report for your business, and a grant can cover up to 50% of the cost of a detailed energy audit, up to £10,000.
Tax and rates
Capital allowances apply in Wales as elsewhere; see our capital allowances guide. Wales excludes plant and machinery used for onsite renewable generation and storage from rating from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2035, under WSI 2023/1229.
Farms
The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme, run by the Development Bank of Wales, opened on 1 July 2026. The Welsh Government announced:
- Loans of between £25,001 and £1 million.
- A fixed interest rate of 3%, with a repayment holiday and terms of up to 15 years.
- Up to £5 million available in 2026 to 2027 for energy efficiency, renewable energy and productivity improvements.
For a farm with steady daytime demand from milking, cooling or drying, a 3% loan over a long term can make solar cash positive from the start. Our farms page explains how farm solar is usually assessed, and our asset finance page helps you compare a loan with other finance.
How a low interest loan changes the numbers
As an illustration, borrowing £90,000 over 10 years at 3% would cost about £10,550 a year in repayments. Set against the roughly £18,180 a year saved in our illustrative 100 kWp example, the project would be cash positive from the first year, with the full saving yours once the loan is repaid. Your own figures will depend on the loan terms you are offered and your site. The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme starts at £25,001, so it suits larger farm systems or solar combined with other improvements.
Public bodies, schools and community groups
The Welsh Government Energy Service supports public sector bodies and community groups in Wales with technical, commercial and procurement advice, from early planning to delivery. The current programme runs until March 2027. It can also help organisations access Welsh Government grant and loan funding. Schools should usually start with their local authority, which can work with the Energy Service.
Community groups have two other routes:
- GBE Community Fund: Great British Energy's fund is open to incorporated community organisations in Wales, with grants for feasibility, development and capital. The current window closes on 12 November 2026, and the Welsh Government Energy Service can help with applications.
- Ynni Cymru: the Welsh Government's Ynni Cymru capital grant has funded community-owned smart local energy projects. The 2026 to 2027 round is closed.
TODO for the site owner: Check gov.wales for the next Ynni Cymru capital grant round and its opening dates, and add eligibility details when announced.
Planning in Wales
Wales has its own permitted development rules for solar on non-domestic buildings, separate from England's. Many rooftop systems can go ahead without planning permission, but conditions apply, and listed buildings, conservation areas and protected landscapes need extra care. Our planning guide covers the general approach.
TODO for the site owner: Confirm the current permitted development limits and conditions for non-domestic rooftop solar in Wales (Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 as amended in Wales, Part 43) and whether any capacity limit still applies.
Grid connections
National Grid Electricity Distribution covers South Wales and SP Energy Networks covers North Wales. Larger systems need G99 approval before connection, and the Smart Export Guarantee applies. See our Wales region page for local context.
Steps for a Welsh organisation considering solar
- Speak to Business Wales about a fully funded resource efficiency report, or, for public bodies and community groups, to the Welsh Government Energy Service.
- Check the Development Bank of Wales eligibility criteria for the Green Business Loan Scheme or, for farms, the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme.
- Confirm planning rules with your local planning authority before committing.
- Get a survey, design and quote, which lenders will ask for.
- Do not start work until you have a written loan or grant offer.
Who to contact
- Development Bank of Wales for the Green Business Loan Scheme and farm loans
- Business Wales for resource efficiency advice and energy audit support
- Welsh Government Energy Service for public bodies and community groups
- Your local authority for planning and rates
- Your accountant for capital allowances and VAT
Lenders will want a design, a cost and a generation estimate. Request a free survey to get those figures for your site.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan for solar panels on my business in Wales?
Yes, potentially. The Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loan Scheme lists solar PV among typical eligible projects. It offers patient capital with repayment holidays and terms linked to payback, for Welsh businesses trading for at least two years. Check the current terms and interest rates on the Development Bank's website before applying.
Is there funding for solar on Welsh farms?
Yes. The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme opened on 1 July 2026. It offers Welsh farm businesses loans of £25,001 to £1 million at a fixed 3% interest rate, with a repayment holiday and terms of up to 15 years, for investments including renewable energy. Up to £5 million is available in 2026 to 2027, so apply early.
Are solar panels exempt from business rates in Wales?
Plant and machinery used for onsite renewable generation and storage is excluded from rating valuations in Wales from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2035. Qualifying rooftop solar should therefore not increase your rateable value during that period. Your local authority can confirm how this applies to your property.
Who helps public bodies in Wales with solar projects?
The Welsh Government Energy Service supports public sector bodies and community groups with technical, commercial and procurement advice, and can help them access Welsh Government grant and loan funding. The current programme runs until March 2027. Schools should usually approach their local authority, which can involve the Energy Service.
Related pages
GrantsAn honest overview of funding for commercial solar across the UK: tax reliefs, rates exemptions, VAT, export payments, loans and the schemes run in each nation.- WalesNGED and SP Energy Networks connections, Planning Policy Wales and Welsh permitted development, the Welsh rates exemption to 2035, and farm, factory and port roofs.
- FarmsDairy, poultry and grain enterprises can make good use of solar on sheds or land. A farm survey looks closely at seasonal demand, building condition and rural grid capacity.
Asset finance and leasingHow hire purchase, finance leases and operating leases work for solar, who claims capital allowances under each, and how to aim for a cash flow positive project.
Capital allowancesHow solar panels are treated for capital allowances: the special rate pool, the Annual Investment Allowance, the 50% first year allowance for companies, and illustrative examples.