Commercial Solar for Schools in Wales

At 30p/kWh grid electricity, a 100 kWp system generating 95,000 kWh/yr with 70% self-consumption delivers around £24,000 of year-one benefit against c. £85,000 capex, a 3.5-year simple payback. Under Annual Investment Allowance first-year 100% relief, post-tax payback is closer to 2.6 years. South Wales yields 940 to 985 kWh/kWp/year depending on postcode, comfortably enough for commercial solar to be cashflow positive from month one with a PPA.

Yes, depending on organisation type. Welsh SMEs and public bodies can access the Welsh Government Energy Service, Ynni Cymru Capital Grants (approximately £10 m in 2026-27, £25,000 to £1 m per project) and Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loans. Welsh public-sector bodies use Salix Wales Funding Programme rather than the English Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Farms may be eligible under Farming Connect. Always check current-year terms before committing.

Most rooftop non-domestic solar is permitted development under the Welsh General Permitted Development Order amendments, subject to limits such as 20 cm protrusion on pitched roofs and 1 m on flat roofs, and with restrictions for listed buildings and conservation areas. Ground-mount beyond those PD limits needs a full planning application. Systems over 10 MW are a Development of National Significance determined by Welsh Ministers.

We specify SolarEdge inverters with Trina Vertex or JA Solar DeepBlue panels as our standard stack. SolarEdge string optimisers give panel-level monitoring and isolate shading losses. Trina and JA are both tier-1 bankable manufacturers with 25 to 30-year performance warranties. For specific projects we can specify alternative tier-1 brands if building, warranty or finance requirements dictate.