Key facts
| Council area | Neath Port Talbot |
| Population | 31,550 (Port Talbot built-up area, Census 2021) |
| Network operator | National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) |
| Main employment areas | Baglan Energy Park; Baglan Industrial Estate; Kenfig Industrial Estate; Port Talbot docks (ABP) and Briton Ferry |
| Enterprise or investment zone | Celtic Freeport (Port Talbot ABP and Briton Ferry tax sites) |
| Indicative yield | About 1,030 kWh per kWp a year (south facing, 30 degrees) |
| Nation support page | Grants and reliefs in Wales |
Where businesses are in Port Talbot
- Baglan Energy Park: Business park near the Port Talbot distributor road and the M4. It includes the council's Endeavour Close Industrial Estate of small units.
- Baglan Industrial Estate: Established industrial estate at Baglan, on the north-west side of the town.
- Kenfig Industrial Estate: Warehousing and distribution estate at Margam, by the M4 (about 1.5 miles from junction 38). Occupiers include Amazon and Greenham.
- Port Talbot docks (ABP) and Briton Ferry: Both are designated Celtic Freeport tax sites.
Large employers and sectors with sites here include:
- Steel: Tata Steel Port Talbot: Being converted to electric arc furnace steelmaking, a £1.25 billion project. Foundation piling was finishing in June 2026, with commissioning planned for late 2027 or early 2028.
- Ports: ABP Port Talbot: Associated British Ports' deep-water port, the Port Talbot half of the Celtic Freeport.
- Warehousing and logistics at Kenfig: Amazon, Greenham and John Pye Auctions occupy Kenfig Industrial Estate.
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.
Enterprise, investment and freeport zones
- Celtic Freeport (Port Talbot ABP and Briton Ferry tax sites)
These zones can bring business rates relief or enhanced capital allowances for eligible firms on qualifying sites; check the current terms with the zone before relying on them.
Grid connection
Port Talbot 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 Port Talbot
Planning in Port Talbot is decided by Neath Port Talbot 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:
- Kenfig National Nature Reserve, part of the Kenfig Special Area of Conservation, is about a mile from Kenfig Industrial Estate on the coast south of the town.
Our planning permission guide sets out the rules.
What a business roof in Port Talbot could generate
Modelled with PVGIS for the town centre, a south-facing roof at 30 degrees produces about 1,030 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 103,000 kWh a year |
| Used on site | 70% at 24p = £17,304 saved |
| Exported | 30% at 5p = £1,545 earned |
| Total a year | About £18,849 |
| Simple payback | About 4.8 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 for energy efficiency and decarbonisation, including solar PV, with funding available until 2028. Check the scheme's own page for eligibility and closing dates.
National reliefs apply too: see grants and reliefs in Wales.
Solar across Neath Port Talbot
At the end of 2025, Neath Port Talbot had 5,262 solar PV installations with 45.3 MW of capacity, up 46% since 2020, according to government figures. The Neath Port Talbot page has the full local figures and how they compare.
Nearby towns
- Llanelli, about 17 miles away
- Barry, about 26 miles away
- Bridgwater, about 47 miles away
- Taunton, about 50 miles away
Sources
- citypopulation.de: W45000537 port talbot
- npt.gov.uk: endeavour close industrial estate
- propertydatabase.business.gov.wales: Baglan Industrial Estate Unit 22 Port Talbot Neath
- mileway.com: kenfig industrial estate 22
- gov.uk: maps of celtic freeport tax sites
- tatasteeluk.com: many milestones at port talbot
- tatasteeluk.com: one year on port talbot electric arc furnace
- naturalresources.wales: new agreement to safeguard kenfig dunes rare wildlife
- developmentbank.wales: green
- gov.wales: extra 10 million support welsh businesses their journey
- en.wikipedia.org: Port Talbot
- 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 Port Talbot?
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 Port Talbot?
About 103,000 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 £18,849 a year. Your own roof, orientation and use will change this.
Can a business in Port Talbot 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
- Neath Port Talbot5,262 installations, 45.3 MW of solar and about 944 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.