Key facts
| Council area | Torfaen |
| Population | 47,090 (Cwmbrân built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) |
| Main employment areas | Springvale Industrial Estate; Llantarnam Industrial Park |
| Indicative yield | About 995 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Wales |
Where businesses are in Cwmbran
- Springvale Industrial Estate: Industrial and trade counter estate about a mile north west of the town centre and about four miles from junction 26 of the M4, let by FI Real Estate Management. Tenants include Rentokil and Fike Safety Technology, and Wholesale Motion took a 12,432 sq ft unit in January 2026.
- Llantarnam Industrial Park: Industrial and business park at Llantarnam. Gwent Police built its £32 million headquarters on the park, with construction starting in February 2020, for 480 officers and staff including the force control room.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Healthcare (Grange University Hospital): The £350 million Grange University Hospital at Llanfrechfa on the east side of Cwmbran, run by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, opened in full on 17 November 2020 with 470 beds and a 24 hour emergency department.
- Food manufacturing (Burton's Biscuit Co): Burton's Llantarnam bakery makes Maryland Cookies, Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers. In March 2021 it was recruiting more than 40 staff, which was to take its workforce close to 750.
- Policing: Gwent Police has its force headquarters at Llantarnam in Cwmbran.
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
Cwmbran 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 Cwmbran
Planning in Cwmbran is decided by Torfaen 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:
- Torfaen's six conservation areas include Llantarnam, Upper Cwmbran and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, and the borough has around 250 listed buildings and structures, so check a building's status before planning roof panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Cwmbran could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 995 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 99,500 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £16,716 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,493 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,209 |
| Simple payback | About 4.9 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 Torfaen
At the end of 2025, Torfaen had 3,374 solar PV installations with 23.2 MW of capacity, up 45% since 2020, according to government figures. The Torfaen page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Pontypool, about 4 miles away
- Newport, about 4 miles away
- Bargoed, about 9 miles away
- Caerphilly, about 10 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- wales247.co.uk: wholesale motion expands distribution space with cwmbran letting
- cwmbranlife.co.uk
- en.wikipedia.org: Grange University Hospital
- foodmanufacture.co.uk: Burton s Biscuit Co factory to create dozens
- en.wikipedia.org: Gwent Police
- gov.uk: growth and local jobs top of the agenda
- businesswales.gov.wales: enterprise zones
- torfaen.gov.uk: built heritage
- 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 Cwmbran?
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 Cwmbran?
About 99,500 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 £18,209 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Cwmbran 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
- Torfaen3,374 installations, 23.2 MW of solar and about 991 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.