Why solar works in Llanelli
Llanelli is the largest town in Carmarthenshire, with a population of approximately 45,000 split across the SA14 and SA15 postcodes. Employment anchors include Prince Philip Hospital under Hywel Dda University Health Board, the independent television production house Tinopolis, the Felinfoel Brewery (founded 1878 and notable as both the oldest brewery in Wales and the first brewery in the world to can beer, which it did in 1935), and Tarmac Temple Works.
PVGIS modelling for SA14 returns typical annual yields of around 960 kWh per kWp installed for a well-oriented rooftop array at 30 to 35 degrees pitch. In practice that means a 4 kWp domestic array generates roughly 3,840 kWh per year, and a 50 kWp commercial rooftop around 48,000 kWh.
Commercial solar in Llanelli
SA14 is the densest commercial industrial sub-district in Carmarthenshire. For commercial operators, the combination of a predictable 960 kWh/kWp yield, current commercial electricity prices at 28 to 32p per kWh, and the Annual Investment Allowance tax treatment means simple payback on a well-sized Llanelli commercial array typically lands between 3.5 and 6 years.
Worked example: 100 kWp commercial installation
- Installed cost: approximately £85,000 to £95,000
- Year-one generation: 96,000 kWh
- Typical self-consumption rate against HH data: 65 to 80 percent
- Simple payback at prevailing electricity pricing: 3.6 to 4.5 years
- Post-tax payback with Annual Investment Allowance: 2.6 to 3.2 years
Typical Llanelli commercial rooftops
We have installed commercial solar across Dafen Industrial Estate, Trostre Industrial Park, Stradey Business Centre and other industrial estates in Llanelli. Typical system sizes range from 30 kWp on smaller trade units to 500 kWp-plus on larger warehouse and factory roofs.
Domestic solar in Llanelli
For Llanelli homeowners, a typical domestic installation is a 4 to 5 kWp array paired with a 5 to 10 kWh battery. At 960 kWh/kWp, a 4 kWp system generates around 3,840 kWh in year one, which covers a meaningful share of a three or four-bedroom household's annual consumption once battery storage smooths the time-of-use mismatch. Payback typically lands at 7 to 10 years at current pricing and Smart Export Guarantee tariffs.
Planning and grid connection
The planning authority for Llanelli is Carmarthenshire CC. Rooftop solar PV on commercial buildings almost always falls within permitted development under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Wales) Order, subject to the usual 200 mm projection limit and non-listed, non-scheduled-monument conditions. Properties inside a conservation area will typically require full planning permission; we handle the application end-to-end.
For grid connection, systems above 3.68 kW per phase require a G99 application to the DNO. Typical approval timelines are 6 to 8 weeks for Type A (up to 1 MW), which we lodge concurrently with design and procurement so they do not sit on the critical path.
Why FLD for your Llanelli installation
- NICEIC Approved Contractor under a single sign-off for both solar and electrical works
- MCS certified for both PV and battery, which is essential for Smart Export Guarantee eligibility
- Swansea-based, directly employed engineers, not subcontractors, on every site
- Insurance-backed NICEIC warranty plus 25 to 30-year panel performance warranty from tier-1 manufacturers
- Remote monitoring included as standard so generation and performance are visible from day one
Start the conversation
If you own a commercial rooftop or a domestic property in Llanelli (SA14, SA15) and want a realistic assessment against your actual consumption data, call Paul direct on 01792 680611 or visit our Llanelli location page for full local detail.
