Solar PPA for care homes in Cardiff

Why constant demand favours a Cardiff care home

Care homes in Cardiff run a genuine 24/7 operation — constant heating, laundry, kitchens and night-time care mean the electricity meter barely rests. That profile is close to ideal for a solar power purchase agreement, which rewards high on-site self-consumption: a 30–150kWp rooftop array feeds the building's own daytime load, and the operator pays a fixed 14–18p/kWh for it while the provider owns and maintains the kit.

The Cardiff and south-Wales base

Cardiff's commercial and industrial activity centres on Cardiff Bay, Wentloog Industrial Park, Cardiff Industrial Park and Atlantic Wharf, and the care market spreads into Penarth, Barry, Caerphilly and towards Newport and Pontypridd. Wales falls under National Grid Electricity Distribution as its DNO, so the practicalities begin there:

• Confirm connection and export headroom with National Grid Electricity Distribution
• Size the array to winter heating load for maximum self-consumption
• Match a 15–25 year PPA term to roof age and lease length
• Consider the Welsh Government Energy Service or a Business Wales loan if buying instead

Welsh policy and the next step

Cardiff Council pursues its One Planet Cardiff strategy and a 2030 net-zero target, while the Welsh Government Energy Service and Business Wales loans through the Development Bank of Wales offer a funded purchase route as an alternative to a PPA. To see who offers these agreements in the Welsh market, browse our overview of PPA providers, read the care-home sector guide, and set it in context with the Cardiff commercial solar page.