Key facts
| Council area | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Population | 37,675 (Aberdare built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) |
| Main employment areas | Hirwaun Industrial Estate; Cwmbach Industrial Estate; Robertstown |
| Indicative yield | About 924 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Wales |
Where businesses are in Aberdare
- Hirwaun Industrial Estate: Industrial estate about four miles west of Aberdare town centre near the A465. In March 2026 the Welsh Government said it had bought its 97,300 sq ft Unit 1, with six acres of development land, and is investing up to £9.25 million to refurbish it for manufacturers under its Tech Valleys programme.
- Cwmbach Industrial Estate: Trade counter and light industrial estate on the A4059 close to the centre of Aberdare, next to Cwmbach station, owned by Mileway, with newly built units that have three phase power.
- Robertstown: Rhondda Cynon Taf Council developed 20 modern industrial units at Robertstown, Aberdare, with European Regional Development Fund support, ranging from about 1,000 to 1,700 sq ft.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Concrete products and housebuilding (W.D. Lewis): Aberdare based W.D. Lewis, a family owned housebuilding and manufacturing group, said in August 2023 that it had over 200 employees and was installing a block making plant able to produce 27,000 blocks a day.
- Engineering (Printing Components): Printing Components, which makes printing rollers and parts for the agriculture and machinery sectors from its Aberdare hub, was bought out by local owners in June 2022, safeguarding 20 jobs.
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
Aberdare is served by National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales). 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 Aberdare
Planning in Aberdare is decided by Rhondda Cynon Taf council under the Welsh rules. Many non-domestic roofs are covered by Welsh permitted development, with conditions, but not within 3 km of an airport or aerodrome or on listed buildings.
Points that come up locally:
- The Aberdare Conservation Area, designated in 1989, covers the Victorian core of the town centre, and Article 4 Directions remove some permitted development rights for both commercial and residential properties there, so check with the council before fitting panels in the centre.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Aberdare 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
- Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loan Scheme: Loans of £1,000 to £1.5m at a discounted fixed interest rate (never below 3%) for energy efficiency and low carbon projects, with solar PV listed as a typical eligible project. Businesses must be based in Wales and have traded for at least two years with filed accounts. A grant of up to 50% of the cost of a detailed energy audit, to a maximum of £10,000, is also offered. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Wales.
Solar across Rhondda Cynon Taf
At the end of 2025, Rhondda Cynon Taf had 7,233 solar PV installations with 70.3 MW of capacity, up 62% since 2020, according to government figures. The Rhondda Cynon Taf page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Merthyr Tydfil, about 4 miles away
- Bargoed, about 9 miles away
- Ebbw Vale, about 11 miles away
- Caerphilly, about 14 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- media.service.gov.wales: gbp 9m to upgrade hirwaun industrial unit and
- mileway.com: hirwaun industrial estate 2
- mileway.com: cwmbach industrial estate
- rctcbc.gov.uk: RobertstownModernIndustrialUnits
- wales247.co.uk: south wales manufacturing group increases capacity with multi
- wales247.co.uk: welsh printing firm under new ownership following buyout
- gov.uk: growth and local jobs top of the agenda
- businesswales.gov.wales: enterprise zones
- rctcbc.gov.uk: StatementofReasonsArticle41Aberdare
- rctcbc.gov.uk: StatementofReasonsArticle42Aberdare
- developmentbank.wales: green
- developmentbank.wales: Green Business Loan Fund campaign guide Eng final
- 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 Aberdare?
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales). 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 Aberdare?
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 Aberdare 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
- Rhondda Cynon Taf7,233 installations, 70.3 MW of solar and about 949 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof.
- 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.
- 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.
- WalesCurrent solar support in Wales for businesses, farms, public bodies and community groups, with rates, planning and official contacts.
- 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.