Key facts
| Council area | Caerphilly |
| Population | 8,035 (Bargod (Bargoed) built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) |
| Main employment areas | Bowen Industrial Estate, Aberbargoed; St David's Industrial Estate, Pengam |
| Indicative yield | About 957 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Wales |
Where businesses are in Bargoed
- Bowen Industrial Estate, Aberbargoed: Established industrial estate of about 11 hectares with a large factory complex to the north, modern industrial units to the south and St Margaret's Park Business Centre, a source of small offices, on the main road. Caerphilly Council's 2022 Employment Land Review called it largely fully let.
- St David's Industrial Estate, Pengam: Fully occupied industrial estate of about 5.2 hectares just south of Bargoed, with some council-owned units and modern units occupied by Toolstation, Greggs and Screwfix, according to the council's 2022 Employment Land Review.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Cold storage and logistics (Wild Water Group): Wild Water Group bought a 130,000 sq ft warehouse on a 12 acre site in Aberbargoed in 2018, saying it could bring up to 120 jobs. In February 2024 Aberbargoed was one of the group's eight cold storage facilities when it was bought by Delancey.
- Manufacturing: Caerphilly County Borough Council's Employment Land Review found manufacturing was the borough's largest sector in 2019, with 12,000 jobs or 20.7% of employment, well above the Welsh average.
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
Bargoed 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 Bargoed
Planning in Bargoed is decided by Caerphilly 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:
- Welsh Government guidance says solar panels on non-domestic buildings can be permitted development if they project no more than 200mm from the roof (1 metre above a flat roof) and sit at least 1 metre from the roof edge; listed buildings need consent, and in conservation areas panels on principal or side elevations visible from the highway need planning consent.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Bargoed could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 957 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 95,700 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,078 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,436 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,513 |
| Simple payback | About 5.1 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 at least one set of 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 Caerphilly
At the end of 2025, Caerphilly had 4,974 solar PV installations with 72.3 MW of capacity, up 17% since 2020, according to government figures. The Caerphilly page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Ebbw Vale, about 6 miles away
- Merthyr Tydfil, about 7 miles away
- Pontypool, about 8 miles away
- Caerphilly, about 8 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- caerphilly.oc2.uk: EB16 Employment Land Review (ENG)
- developmentbank.wales
- businessnewswales.com: cardiff based cold storage giant wild water acquired
- gov.uk: growth and local jobs top of the agenda
- businesswales.gov.wales: enterprise zones
- gov.wales: planning permission solar panels non domestic
- 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 Bargoed?
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 Bargoed?
About 95,700 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 £17,513 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Bargoed 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
- Caerphilly4,974 installations, 72.3 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.