Pier Solar designs bespoke solar systems for Cardiff homes and small businesses. Vetted, MCS-certified partners then install them. Wales has its own planning rules, so this page uses the Welsh ones.
Solar output in Cardiff and what it means for a 4 kWp system
PVGIS models about 1,030 kWh a year from each kWp of panels in Cardiff, at an ideal angle. That is a modelled estimate, not a guarantee. Real roofs are rarely at the ideal angle, so expect a little less.
A typical home system is around 4 to 4.5 kWp. At 4 kWp, the PVGIS figure gives roughly 4,120 kWh a year. A typical home uses about 2,500 kWh of electricity a year. A well-placed system can therefore make more than an average household needs over the year, although the timing of use still matters.
Summer carries most of the output. Our guide explains how solar panels perform in winter. Panels still generate in winter and on cloudy days, but December output is typically about a third of July's.
Homes, roofs and planning in Cardiff
Cardiff has long rows of Victorian terraces, interwar suburbs and newer estates. Terraces often have a regular roof slope that suits a tidy layout. We check shade, roof condition and loft access before we design.
For example, in Wales, most homes can add solar without planning permission, with limits for listed buildings and conservation areas. Welsh Government guidance says panels should project no more than 200 mm from the roof or wall. They must not rise above the ridgeline. In a conservation area, panels on front or side walls visible from the street need consent. A listed building needs both planning permission and listed building consent.
Cardiff has many conservation areas, so plenty of streets have extra rules. Check with Cardiff Council before you order. Do not apply the English rules to a Welsh home, because the numbers differ.
Cardiff is in the National Grid Electricity Distribution area for South Wales. Your installer normally handles the network operator paperwork.
How a Pier Solar project runs in Cardiff
In particular, we start with your bills, roof and goals. We then design the system and set out the specification. A vetted partner fits it, and we oversee the project from survey to handover.
Meanwhile, if you want to use spare power later, battery storage systems can be planned in from the start. Many Cardiff households also pair solar with a car charger. Our team can specify EV charger installation to run alongside the panels.
Costs, savings and export
Additionally, a typical 4 to 4.5 kWp home system typically costs roughly £6,000 to £8,000 installed. Our guide to solar panel costs in the UK shows where that range comes from. Installing solar panels in a home in Wales is currently VAT-free, until 31 March 2027.
As a result, the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for surplus solar electricity you send to the grid. Each supplier sets its own export rate, so compare tariffs before you choose. To judge value, see whether solar panels are worth it in the UK.
In Wales, the Nest scheme may help eligible households, including with some solar installs. Eligibility is checked with Nest, and it is not open to everyone.
Nearby areas we cover
Cardiff sits close to the Severn crossing, so we also cover solar panels in Bristol. Further west, see our page on solar panel installation in Plymouth.
To start, tell us about your roof through our online enquiry form for a Cardiff solar design.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Yes. Wales has its own permitted development rules, with limits for listed buildings and conservation areas. Check with Cardiff Council for your address.
- PVGIS models about 1,030 kWh a year per kWp at an ideal angle. A 4 kWp system would make roughly 4,120 kWh, though real roofs typically make less.
- The Nest scheme may help eligible households, including with some solar installs. Ask Nest to check your eligibility.
- Vetted MCS-certified partners install to our design. Pier Solar designs the system and oversees the project.