Caerphilly and its CF83 catchment form one of the larger domestic solar markets in the FLD east-Wales coverage area. The CF83 postcode covers Caerphilly town, Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen and the upper valley villages of Senghenydd and Abertridwr, plus the newer Energlyn development.
Caerphilly town: conservation area stock
Caerphilly’s castle conservation area applies visual-impact assessment to roof-mounted solar on front elevations facing the castle moat. Rear-pitch installations on properties with non-visible rear elevations typically proceed without consent. In-roof integrated solar is the appropriate specification for front pitches on conservation-adjacent properties. CF83 yield baseline: 948 kWh/kWp.
Bedwas and Trethomas commuter belt
Bedwas and Trethomas are 1970s and 1980s commuter-suburb developments with south to south-west facing rear pitches on the majority of properties. A 4.5 kWp south-facing Bedwas semi at 948 kWh/kWp generates 4,266 kWh annually. At 35% daytime self-consumption, year-one benefit: approximately £720. On £7,800 installed cost, payback: 10.8 years.
Energlyn new-build: the solar-ready opportunity
The Energlyn development on the eastern Caerphilly fringe has seen significant completions through 2022 to 2026. Later-phase properties are solar-ready with pre-run conduit. FLD installs panel arrays on pre-wired Energlyn plots at reduced cost — typically £4,800 to £6,200 for 3 kWp to 4.5 kWp — because scaffold mobilisation and cable routing costs are reduced. Payback on an Energlyn solar-ready installation: 7.0 to 8.5 years — among the best residential paybacks in the CF83 area.
Senghenydd and Abertridwr: upper valley
Senghenydd and Abertridwr carry Victorian coal-mining terrace stock in a narrow valley orientation. FLD uses LiDAR horizon profiles for these properties rather than PVGIS postcode figures. Effective yield in the most constrained positions runs at 930 to 940 kWh/kWp. SolarEdge optimisation is the standard specification for all upper Aber Valley properties.
Getting a Caerphilly survey
FLD covers CF83 on east-Wales survey days combining Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Newport routes. Call Paul on 01792 680611.
