Tenby’s 1,000 kWh/kWp solar yield makes it the single best location for commercial solar in FLD’s coverage area. Every kilowatt of installed capacity generates more annual electricity in SA70 than anywhere else in South Wales — and the coastal tourism economy means that peak electricity demand (summer hospitality) coincides almost perfectly with peak solar generation. For commercial solar economics, Tenby is the premium case.
SA70 commercial yield: the financial impact
The PVGIS baseline for SA70 runs at 995 to 1,005 kWh/kWp. Compared with a Cardiff CF10 installation at 940 to 945 kWh/kWp, the Tenby premium delivers approximately 5,500 to 6,500 kWh more annual generation on a 100 kWp system — worth approximately £1,650 to £1,950 per year at 30p/kWh self-consumption. Over 25 years, that yield premium is worth £41,000 to £48,750 on a single 100 kWp system in cumulative electricity value.
For holiday parks and resort hotels deploying 200 kWp to 500 kWp, the yield premium is a material component of the investment case.
Saundersfoot and Tenby resort economy
The SA70 tourism economy encompasses Tenby walled town, the Penally and Lydstep holiday park belt, and the Saundersfoot resort corridor. Holiday parks across this belt carry leisure buildings, reception blocks and indoor pool or entertainment facilities with flat or low-pitch roofs suited to 100 kWp to 400 kWp arrays per building complex.
Electricity demand at SA70 holiday parks tracks the solar generation curve closely during the May to September peak season — guests arrive in the morning, use pool and leisure facilities through the day, and energy demand is highest during exactly the core solar generation hours. Self-consumption rates at SA70 holiday parks run at 80% to 88% during the main season, giving an annualised rate of 74% to 80% after accounting for the off-peak winter months.
Payback model: 200 kWp SA70 holiday park amenity building
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual generation | 200,000 kWh |
| Self-consumed (77%) | 154,000 kWh |
| Electricity cost saving (30p/kWh) | £46,200 |
| SEG export income (23%) | £6,900 |
| Year-one benefit | £53,100 |
| Installed cost | £172,000 |
| Simple payback | 3.2 years |
| AIA post-tax payback | 2.4 years |
The SA70 yield premium contributes approximately £2,400 to year-one benefit compared with an equivalent Cardiff installation — improving simple payback by approximately 0.2 years.
Walled town conservation: commercial planning
The Tenby conservation area covers the walled town and significant sections of the tourist approach streets. Commercial properties in the walled town — hotels, restaurants, independent retail — face the same conservation planning constraints as residential properties. FLD applies pre-application consultation as standard for all walled town commercial proposals, specifying in-roof integrated solar where visible from street level.
Properties outside the walled town designation — the South Beach and Penally belt — are typically able to proceed under permitted development for commercial rooftop solar below 1 MW.
SP Manweb for SA70 commercial solar
SA70 is SP Manweb territory. G99 Type A approval timelines run at 14 to 20 weeks. The Tenby resort area substations carry tourism-scale commercial connections but export headroom on individual circuits varies. FLD runs pre-application export capacity checks for all SA70 commercial proposals above 50 kWp.
Ynni Cymru for SA70 tourism businesses
Tenby tourism and hospitality businesses registered in Wales qualify for Ynni Cymru capital grants of £25,000 to £1,000,000. For a 200 kWp installation at £172,000, a grant of £25,000 to £40,000 is within published eligibility ranges — reducing effective capex and improving post-grant payback below 2.8 years before AIA credit.
Getting a Tenby commercial survey
FLD covers SA70 on Pembrokeshire coastal survey days combining Tenby, Narberth and Pembroke. Call Paul on 01792 680611 for a no-cost feasibility assessment.