UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 26, 2026 / Households across Wales are being warned that waiting too long to install solar panels could reduce their future ability to export electricity back to the grid, potentially limiting long-term financial returns.

The warning comes as demand for home solar continues to surge across Wales. According to Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) data, solar uptake across Wales continued to accelerate in 2025, with more than 19,000 new solar PV systems installed during the year, up from around 15,400 in 2024. This reflects a sharp rise in adoption as households increasingly turn to self-generated power.

This record growth, while positive for decarbonisation, also means local electricity networks face increasing pressure as more households seek to export power back to the grid.

Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), which manage local electricity infrastructure, are required to assess whether new solar systems can export power freely back into the grid.

In some parts of the Wales, this has already resulted in export limits being applied to new installations.

Ian Mach, Founder of Swansea-based Ulex Energy, said, “About half of our applications to the DNO on behalf of our customers come back with an export limit being imposed. Installing sooner rather than later may help households secure better long-term export capability.”

He added that the shift mirrors previous infrastructure trends, where network capacity becomes progressively constrained as uptake rises.

This trend is likely to increase as more homes install solar particularly in regions such as South Wales where adoption is accelerating. Solar PV remains the most popular renewable technology in Wales, with more than 19,000 certified solar installations recorded last year alone.

For households installing solar today, export capacity is often still available at the higher levels, allowing surplus electricity to be sold back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee.

However, as installation numbers continue to rise, future applicants may increasingly face restrictions on how much electricity they can export.

Export ability plays a key role in overall system value, particularly for homes that generate more power than they consume during daylight hours.

For Wales households considering solar, the question is no longer just about savings, but about timing.

Installing sooner may:

• preserve export flexibility
• maximise long-term system value
• avoid potential grid constraints

As renewable adoption continues to accelerate, access to full export capability may become an increasingly scarce advantage.

To find out more about Ulex Energy, visit: www.ulexenergy.co.uk.