Solar panels in Caerphilly

Caerphilly council area is home to 175,952 people, according to the 2021 census. Solar is one way to cut bills, but the numbers vary by roof. Solar Cymru is an independent guide and referral service, so we explain the choices and leave the fitting to MCS-certified installers.

Reading the Caerphilly yield figure

PVGIS models a south-facing roof at 35 degrees near Caerphilly at about 1,020 kWh a year for each kWp. A 4.5 kWp system would make roughly 4,600 kWh. That is a solid figure for South East Wales. For the method behind it, see our guide to solar yield in Wales.

Few roofs face due south, though. For instance, a south-east or south-west roof gives about 95 percent of the south figure. East and west roofs give around 80 to 82 percent, and north-facing roofs only about half.

Our post on solar on east-west and north-facing roofs explains when a split array is worth it. In short, two slopes spread output over a longer day. That suits a household that is out at midday but busy in the morning and evening.

Export tariffs and the Smart Export Guarantee

Exports earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee. Suppliers set their own rates, and any supplier will do, not just your current one. Ofgem’s 2024-25 report found an untied average near 4.4p per kWh and a tied average near 14.5p.

Tied tariffs bundle other products, such as a battery. Therefore, read the small print before you sign, because the headline rate may depend on buying extras. Our Smart Export Guarantee explainer shows how to compare.

You need an MCS certificate and an export meter to apply. However, using power at home is worth more than selling it. The price cap rate is about 26p per kWh for October to December 2026, so each unit you use saves far more than a typical export payment earns.

Pairing panels with a heat pump

Solar can power a heat pump and lower its running cost. An air source heat pump costs around £12,000 before grants, according to the Energy Saving Trust. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is £7,500 in England and Wales, but it covers the heat pump, not the panels.

Read our post on solar panels and heat pumps in Wales before you plan both. Wales changed its permitted development rules for outdoor heat pump units from 1 June 2026, so check them before you fit one. Because the rules differ for each technology, treat the two projects separately.

Planning, conservation areas and the grid

Caerphilly County Borough Council is the planning authority. A house roof usually needs no application for panels. However, they must stay within 20 cm of the roof slope and sit below the roof’s highest point. Our planning guide for Wales lists the other limits.

Cadw records 16 conservation areas in the council area. In those, a wall that faces a highway needs planning permission for panels. An Article 4 direction can remove rights too, so search the council’s planning register for your street.

National Grid Electricity Distribution’s South Wales area covers this part of the country, although its report does not list Caerphilly by name. Confirm your operator by postcode. Systems up to 3.68 kW on a single phase follow G98, so your installer notifies the operator within 28 days.

Costs and getting quotes

Although prices vary, government cost data points to roughly £6,500 to £8,800 for a typical 4.5 kWp home system. VAT is 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5%. Savings come to around £450 to £500 or more a year, depending on how much power you use yourself.

Send your postcode and roof details through the enquiry form. As a result, we can refer you to MCS-certified installers, and they arrange the survey. Ask them to model east-west options if your roof does not face south.

Neighbouring pages may help you compare. Visit solar installers in Pontypridd, solar quotes around Cardiff and solar installers in Newport. The page on solar panel installation in Wales explains the full process.