Key facts
| Council area | Conwy |
| Population | 14,710 (Llandudno built-up area, usual residents, Census 2021 (ONS)) |
| Network operator | SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales licence area) |
| Main employment areas | Builder Street (Cwrt Roger Mostyn); Tremarl Industrial Estate, Llandudno Junction |
| Indicative yield | About 940 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Wales |
Where businesses are in Llandudno
- Builder Street (Cwrt Roger Mostyn): A prime industrial area in Llandudno, on Builder Street with links to the A470 and A55. Mostyn Estates lets light industrial units at Cwrt Roger Mostyn there.
- Tremarl Industrial Estate, Llandudno Junction: Multi-let industrial estate of 54,142 sq ft on Ffordd Maelgwyn by the A55, virtually fully let when it was sold in 2020. Tanners Wines runs a warehouse shop there.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Tourism: Conwy County's 2024 tourism figures put the economic impact at £1.33bn from 9.61 million visitors, supporting 11,688 full time equivalent jobs.
- Healthcare (North Wales Surgical Centre): The North Wales Surgical Centre at Llandudno Hospital, funded with £29 million from the Welsh Government, has two new theatres, 19 extra beds and capacity for 1,900 operations a year, and was due to open in May 2026.
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
Llandudno is served by SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales 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 Llandudno
Planning in Llandudno is decided by Conwy 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:
- Llandudno's conservation area protects its Victorian resort character and holds about 360 listed buildings. Conwy Council says alterations to properties in commercial use, including offices, shops, guesthouses and hotels, invariably need planning permission there, so ask the council before fitting panels.
Our guides on listed buildings and conservation areas explain what these mean for a solar project.
What a business roof in Llandudno could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 940 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 94,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £15,792 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,410 earned |
| Total a year | About £17,202 |
| Simple payback | About 5.2 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 Conwy
At the end of 2025, Conwy had 4,496 solar PV installations with 49.4 MW of capacity, up 96% since 2020, according to government figures. The Conwy page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Colwyn Bay, about 5 miles away
- Rhyl, about 14 miles away
- Caernarfon, about 22 miles away
- Porthmadog, about 30 miles away
Sources
- ons.gov.uk: census2021
- ons.gov.uk: datadownload.xlsx
- mostynestates.co.uk: 8 Cwrt Roger Mostyn
- legatowen.co.uk: demand for multi let industrial continues apace
- tanners-wines.co.uk: llandudno junction
- assets.simpleviewinc.com: CON Basic ES 24 b45132fb 8262 4158 9521
- gov.wales: fm gets behind the scenes look at north
- businesswales.gov.wales: enterprise zones
- anglesey.gov.wales: anglesey freeport moves into delivery phase as partners
- gov.uk: maps of flintshire and wrexham investment zone tax
- conwy.gov.uk: Llandudno Conservation Area FAQs
- 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 Llandudno?
SP Energy Networks (SP Manweb, Merseyside and North Wales 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 Llandudno?
About 94,000 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 £17,202 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Llandudno 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
- Conwy4,496 installations, 49.4 MW of solar and about 900 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.