Solar panel grants and funding UK: What’s available and how to apply

The average cost of solar panels can run into several thousand pounds, but grants and other funding schemes could help some UK households reduce the amount they need to pay.

There isn’t currently one nationwide grant that is open to every homeowner. Instead, support is spread across several schemes, with eligibility often depending on your income, whether you receive certain benefits, your home’s energy-efficiency rating and where in the UK you live.

In England, the main schemes to investigate are the Energy Company Obligation, known as ECO4, ECO4 Flex and the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate programmes, while the UK-wide Warm Homes Plan is also introducing government-backed finance for homeowners who don’t qualify for fully-funded improvements.

Importantly, most of these are home energy-efficiency schemes rather than dedicated solar panel grants. Even when solar panels are among the available measures, an assessment may find that insulation, heating improvements or another upgrade would make a greater difference to your home.

This guide explains the solar panel grants and funding available in 2026, who could qualify and which alternatives can help if you aren’t eligible for free solar panels.

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Can I get a solar panel grant?

You may qualify if:

• You own your home or have your landlord’s permission
• Your household receives certain benefits or has a low income
• Your home has a low EPC rating, often D, E, F or G
• Your council is taking part in a relevant scheme
• You live in an area covered by a devolved or local programme

You are less likely to qualify if:

• You are not on a low income
• Your home already has a good EPC rating
• You want help replacing an existing working solar panel system
• You are looking for a grant that is open to every UK homeowner

The best first step is to check your local council website, your energy supplier and the relevant national scheme for where you live.

UK solar panel grants and funding schemes at a glance

The available solar panel grants and funding support depend on where you live, your income, your home’s energy efficiency rating and whether you are looking for upfront help or savings after installation. Some schemes can cover the cost of solar panels for eligible households, while others reduce the cost indirectly through VAT relief, group-buying or payments for exported electricity.

Upfront grants and support

What solar panel grants are available in 2026?

1. Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) grant

ECO4 is a government energy-efficiency scheme designed to improve poorly performing homes occupied by people on low incomes or receiving certain benefits. The improvements are paid for by larger energy suppliers, while Ofgem administers the scheme.

ECO4 has been extended and is now due to run until 31 December 2026.

It isn’t a conventional grant that pays a fixed sum into your bank account, nor is it specifically a solar panel scheme. If you qualify, your home will be assessed and a package of improvements will be recommended. Depending on the property, this might include insulation, heating controls, a new heating system or renewable technologies such as solar panels.

Solar panels are therefore possible under ECO4, but qualifying for the scheme doesn’t guarantee that they will be installed.

Who is eligible?

For the standard ECO4 route, someone living in the property will generally need to receive an eligible benefit. These include:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Tax Credits
• Pension Credit Savings Credit
• Child Benefit, subject to household-income limits

Additional routes can cover eligible social-housing properties and households referred through ECO4 Flex.

Property requirements also apply. Owner-occupied homes will generally need an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G, while privately rented homes will normally need a rating of E, F or G.

Receiving a qualifying benefit doesn’t automatically entitle you to work. The energy supplier or installer will assess the property, decide which improvements are suitable and confirm whether it is prepared to fund them.

How much can you get through ECO4?

There is no standard £10,000 ECO4 grant or fixed maximum that every successful applicant receives. The value of the support depends on the work recommended for the property and the funding agreed by the participating energy supplier.

In some cases, the work may be fully funded. In others, the householder or landlord may be asked to make a contribution. You should confirm in writing what is included and whether you will need to pay anything before agreeing to an installation.

How to apply

ECO4 is available in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland. You can contact a participating energy supplier, your local council or a TrustMark-registered installer working under the scheme. You don’t necessarily need to buy your energy from the supplier you approach.

The provider will check your eligibility and arrange an assessment of your property. You should never have to pay an application fee simply to access ECO4 funding.

2. ECO4 Flex

ECO4 Flex, sometimes called Local Authority Flex or LA Flex, allows participating councils and energy suppliers to identify households that need help but don’t qualify through the standard ECO4 benefits route.

Up to half of an energy supplier’s ECO obligation can be delivered through Flex referrals. However, participation is optional, so the application process and availability can differ between council areas.

As with standard ECO4, solar panels are not guaranteed. Your home will be assessed and the funding provider will decide which package of improvements is appropriate.

Who is eligible?

A household may qualify through one of several routes. These can include:

• A combined gross annual household income below £31,000
• A severe or long-term health condition that is made worse by living in a cold home
• Living in fuel poverty or being unable to afford sufficient heating
• Other circumstances identified through a participating council’s published eligibility policy

Qualifying health conditions can include cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, limited mobility and immunosuppression.

The £31,000 limit applies to the main income-based Flex route. Earning more than this doesn’t necessarily rule you out if your household qualifies through another route, but being slightly above the threshold isn’t itself an eligibility criterion.

How to apply

Check your council’s website for its ECO4 Flex Statement of Intent, which should explain whether it is taking part and which eligibility routes it uses.

Depending on the local process, you may be referred through your council, an energy supplier, a health professional or an approved delivery partner. A council referral confirms that you meet its eligibility criteria, but it doesn’t guarantee that an energy supplier will fund the work.

3. Warm Homes: Local Grant

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is a government-funded scheme in England that helps local authorities improve the energy efficiency of low-income households. It is part of the wider Warm Homes Plan and is designed to help eligible homes cut energy bills, reduce fuel poverty and move towards cleaner heating.

The grant can fund a range of improvements, depending on what the property needs. These can include insulation, smart heating controls, air source heat pumps and solar panels. If your application is successful, your local council will arrange a home survey to decide which improvements are suitable. The council will then organise and pay for the agreed work, so homeowners do not usually have to pay for the upgrades themselves.

The scheme is not a solar-panel-only grant. Solar panels may be recommended if they are considered an appropriate way to improve your home’s energy performance, but the final package of measures will depend on the property assessment.

Who is eligible?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is only available in England. To qualify, your home must usually be privately owned, either by you or your landlord, and have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G. If you do not know your home’s EPC rating, you can check this during the application process.

Your household income will usually need to be £36,000 a year or less. However, households with a higher income may still qualify if they live in an eligible postcode area or someone in the household receives certain benefits.

Private tenants may also be able to benefit, but their landlord may need to give permission and, in some cases, contribute towards the cost of improvements. Local authorities and their delivery partners will confirm the exact eligibility rules for each property.

How to apply

You can check your eligibility and apply through the government’s Warm Homes: Local Grant online service. If you appear to qualify, your application will usually be passed to your local council or its delivery partner, which will contact you for more information and arrange a home survey. Gov.uk says councils will usually contact applicants within 10 working days.

You can also contact your local council directly to ask whether it is taking part in the scheme and how applications are being handled in your area. The scheme is delivered locally, so the exact process may vary depending on where you live and how much funding your council has available.

4. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme

The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme provides grants and interest-free loans for eligible energy-efficiency and low-carbon heating improvements.

However, it does not normally fund standard solar photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity, as a standalone measure. Solar thermal systems, which heat water, and hybrid solar PV and water-heating systems may qualify for interest-free loan funding of up to £5,000.

This means the scheme is unlikely to be the right source of finance if you only want conventional rooftop solar panels. Home Energy Scotland’s Funding Finder may identify other local grants, discounts or finance that are available for your property.

Who is eligible?

The scheme is available to owner-occupiers in Scotland who are improving the home in which they normally live. Each proposed measure must meet the scheme’s technical and eligibility requirements.

You must receive a written funding offer before ordering equipment, paying a deposit or allowing installation work to begin. Funding cannot normally be claimed retrospectively.

How to apply

Contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or use its online Funding Finder. An adviser can explain which measures may qualify and whether other national or local support is available.

Applications and a funding offer must be completed before work begins.

5. Wales: Nest and local authority support

The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme provides free, impartial advice to help households in Wales reduce their energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Eligible households may also be offered free home energy-efficiency improvements.

The work offered will depend on the property and the outcome of a home assessment. Improvements can include insulation, heating systems, heat pumps and, in some cases, solar panels. Solar panels are not guaranteed, but they may be recommended if they are suitable for the home and form part of the most appropriate package of measures.

Who is eligible?

Nest is only available to households in Wales. To qualify for free home energy-efficiency improvements, you must own your home or rent privately. You must also receive a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household.

Your home must usually have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E, F or G. If your home has an EPC rating of D, you may still qualify if you or someone you live with has an eligible health condition. These can include respiratory conditions, circulatory conditions, mental health conditions, dementia and developmental disorders.

If your home has an EPC rating of D but no one in the household has an eligible health condition, the Welsh Government says your details may be placed on a reserve list.

How to apply

You can contact Nest directly to check whether you are eligible for free home energy-efficiency improvements. Call 0808 808 2244 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, use the online eligibility checker or request a callback through the Welsh Government website.

6. Green Homes Wales

Green Homes Wales provides interest-free finance and expert advice to help owner-occupiers make their homes more energy efficient. Unlike Nest, it isn’t limited to lower-income households receiving fully funded improvements.

The scheme can support a range of measures, including solar panels, battery storage, insulation, low-carbon heating and other energy-saving upgrades. The Welsh Government has allocated more than £5m to the programme for 2026/27.

Applicants receive support from a retrofit coordinator, who assesses the property and recommends an appropriate package of improvements. The resulting loan is interest-free, but you will still need to repay the amount borrowed and should check all fees, terms and total costs before proceeding.

Who is eligible?

The scheme is intended for owner-occupiers improving an existing home in Wales. The property and proposed measures must meet the programme’s eligibility and technical requirements.

Because it is a finance scheme rather than a grant, applicants will also need to pass the lender’s affordability and credit checks.

How to apply

Applications are made through the Development Bank of Wales. Don’t begin work before your application, home assessment and finance agreement have been completed, as costs incurred beforehand may not qualify.

7. Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP)

The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) funds a changing selection of energy-efficiency schemes for households and businesses.

The programme runs annually, and the available measures, income limits and delivery organisations can change each year. The 2026/27 programme runs from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2027, or until the funding allocated to each scheme has been used.

Unlike ECO4, there isn’t one standard application or eligibility test. You need to identify the individual NISEP scheme that covers your circumstances and apply to the organisation delivering it.

Can you get solar panels through NISEP?

Some households can. The 2026/27 list includes Toasty Homes – Heat Pump and Solar Technologies, a fully-funded package that can provide an air source heat pump, solar PV, battery storage and insulation to eligible owner-occupiers.

For this scheme, gross household income must be below:

• £33,000 for a one-person household
• £40,000 for a couple, joint household or single-parent family

The measures offered will depend on the property assessment. Northern Ireland Housing Executive leaseholders are not eligible for this particular programme.

There is also a Priority PV Scheme for selected Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants living outside the natural-gas network. It can provide a solar PV system, hybrid inverter and battery storage without requiring a contribution from the tenant. The Housing Executive selects the eligible properties.

These are targeted schemes rather than a general solar panel grant available to every Northern Ireland homeowner.

Who is eligible?

The programme is primarily targeted at low-income and vulnerable households, often defined as those receiving benefits or struggling with fuel poverty. However, each year’s funding round is divided into “priority” and “non-priority” groups, meaning some schemes are open to all households, regardless of income, if budget allows.

How to apply

Check the Utility Regulator’s NISEP page and contact the named delivery organisation for the programme that applies to you.

You may be asked to provide evidence of household income, property ownership and permission from other owners. Your home will also need to pass a technical survey.

Funding is limited and some programmes can develop waiting lists or close once their allocation has been committed.

8. Local council solar panel grants

Some local councils offer solar panel grants, group-buying schemes or wider home energy-efficiency support for residents. These vary by area and may be funded through national programmes, local authority budgets or regional decarbonisation funding.

In England, many councils help deliver the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which can fund energy-efficiency upgrades for low-income households. Some councils also take part in group-buying schemes such as Solar Together, which are not grants but can reduce installation costs through collective buying.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility depends on the scheme. Council grant funding is usually aimed at low-income households, homes with poor energy-efficiency ratings, people receiving certain benefits, or residents in eligible postcode areas.

Group-buying schemes are usually open to homeowners in participating council areas. Private tenants may be able to take part if they have their landlord’s permission.

How to apply

Search your local council’s website for terms such as “solar panel grant”, “home energy grant”, “Warm Homes”, “ECO4 Flex” or “energy efficiency funding”.

If funding is available, you may need to complete an eligibility form, provide evidence of income or benefits, and allow a home energy assessment. If solar panels are suitable, they may be offered as part of a wider package of improvements rather than as a standalone grant.

Read more: My honest review of Sunsave solar panels

What is the UK’s Warm Homes Plan?

The Warm Homes Plan is the government’s wider programme for improving the energy efficiency of homes, reducing household bills and accelerating the installation of technologies such as solar panels, batteries, insulation and heat pumps.

It doesn’t create a universal grant through which every homeowner can claim free solar panels. Instead, it combines several types of support for different households.

Grants for eligible households

In England, the most relevant existing route is the Warm Homes: Local Grant. This provides council-arranged improvements for eligible lower-income households and homes in selected postcode areas.

Solar panels and batteries may be included where they are considered suitable, but the package is based on an assessment of the property rather than the applicant choosing a specific technology.

Separate Warm Homes funding is also being used to upgrade social housing, but individual tenants don’t generally apply to these programmes in the same way as a private homeowner.

Low- and zero-interest finance

The Warm Homes Plan also includes government support for zero- and low-interest consumer loans covering solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and other home upgrades.

The Warm Homes Loan Scheme is intended to work through participating banks and lenders rather than offering loans directly from the government. Lenders began being invited to join the accelerated launch in June 2026.

Detailed consumer products, interest rates and eligibility requirements will depend on the participating lenders. Until these products become widely available, homeowners should be cautious about companies implying that any ordinary commercial solar loan is an official Warm Homes loan.

What does the Warm Homes Plan mean for solar panels?

For lower-income households, solar panels may be provided through a targeted grant programme if they are appropriate for the property.

For households that don’t qualify for a grant, government-backed finance could eventually make it cheaper to spread the upfront cost. However, a loan still needs to be repaid, so compare the total repayment amount with the likely bill savings and the cost of paying for the installation outright.

Can solar panel grants cover batteries?

Solar panel grants and funding schemes may cover battery storage in some cases, but this is not guaranteed. It depends on the scheme, the property assessment and whether the battery is recommended as part of a wider energy-efficiency package.

Under the Warm Homes: Local Grant, PV batteries are listed as an eligible measure, meaning they can be installed alongside solar panels where suitable. However, applicants do not usually choose individual upgrades themselves. The local authority or delivery partner will assess the home and decide which measures are appropriate.

Battery storage may also be supported under some other schemes, but the rules vary. In Scotland, for example, Home Energy Scotland says loan funding for battery storage is available to homeowners only when paired with a renewable system such as solar panels.

If you are applying for solar panel funding, ask whether battery storage is included before agreeing to any work. A battery can increase how much of your solar electricity you use at home, but it also adds to the installation cost, so it is worth comparing the grant-funded package with the cost and expected savings of installing solar panels and a battery privately.

What if I don’t qualify for a solar panel grant?

If you do not qualify for ECO4, Warm Homes or local authority funding, you may still be able to reduce the cost of solar panels through:

• Zero per cent VAT on solar panel installations
• Group-buying schemes such as Solar Together, where available
• Green home loans or low-interest finance
• Solar panel subscription or rent-a-roof models, where suitable
• Smart Export Guarantee payments after installation
• Comparing multiple quotes from MCS-certified installers

Solar panel savings and payments after installation

Solar Together and group-buying schemes

Solar Together is a group-buying programme through which participating councils bring households together to purchase solar panels and battery storage.

It isn’t a grant. Instead, pre-vetted installers compete through an auction to offer an installation package to registered households. Buying collectively may produce a more competitive price, but the saving will depend on your property, the chosen system and prices available elsewhere.

Who is eligible?

Registration is generally open to homeowners in participating council areas. Some schemes may also accept landlords, small businesses or tenants who have permission from the property owner.

Availability depends on whether your council is currently running a programme. A council that has participated previously may not necessarily offer it every year.

How to apply

Check the Solar Together website or your council’s website to see whether registration is open in your area.

After the auction, you should receive a personalised recommendation and price. You aren’t obliged to accept it. Compare the offer with quotes from other MCS-certified installers, checking the system specification, warranties, estimated generation, consumer protections and total cost rather than assuming the group-buying offer will automatically be the cheapest.

Zero per cent VAT on solar installations

Qualifying solar panel installations in residential accommodation are currently charged at zero per cent VAT across the UK.

The temporary zero rate applies until 31 March 2027. Under current legislation, qualifying installations are then scheduled to revert to the reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent from 1 April 2027.

The relief applies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It can also cover qualifying battery storage, whether the battery is installed alongside solar panels or as a standalone system.

Who is eligible?

The relief generally applies when a business supplies and installs qualifying solar panels in residential accommodation. The installer should apply the correct VAT rate directly to your quotation and invoice, so there is no separate grant application or VAT refund to claim.

Solar equipment bought from a retailer without installation is normally subject to the standard VAT rate. If you buy the materials yourself and hire a separate contractor, the contractor’s qualifying installation service may be zero-rated, but the original retail purchase will not be.

Check that any quotation clearly separates the eligible installation from unrelated work or products that may still be charged at the standard VAT rate.

Smart Export Guarantee payments

The Smart Export Guarantee, or SEG, allows households and businesses with small-scale renewable generation to receive payments for eligible electricity exported to the grid.

It isn’t a solar panel grant and it won’t reduce your initial installation cost. Instead, it can provide an ongoing return once your system is operating.

Larger electricity suppliers are required to offer at least one SEG tariff, although they decide how much they will pay. Rates and conditions can vary considerably, so it is worth comparing export tariffs rather than automatically choosing your existing energy supplier.

Who is eligible?

The statutory SEG applies in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.

Your installation must meet the supplier’s technical requirements and have an export meter capable of recording how much electricity you send to the grid. Suppliers will generally ask for evidence that the system was installed to an appropriate standard, such as an MCS certificate.

You cannot normally receive SEG payments for electricity for which you are already receiving feed-in tariff export payments.

How to apply

You must apply directly to an electricity supplier offering a SEG tariff. It doesn’t have to be the same company that supplies electricity to your home.

The supplier will ask for details of your solar panel system, its certification and your export meter. Once your application has been approved and an export agreement is in place, you will be paid for qualifying electricity recorded as being sent to the grid.

How to avoid solar panel grant scams

Be cautious if you are contacted unexpectedly by someone claiming that you have been approved for free solar panels or that a government grant is about to expire.

Legitimate schemes have eligibility rules and usually require an assessment of both the household and property. A cold caller shouldn’t be able to guarantee that you qualify before these checks have taken place.

Before agreeing to any work:

• Confirm the scheme through Gov.uk, your council, energy supplier or the relevant devolved government
• Ask for the installer’s full company name and check its TrustMark and MCS registration where applicable
• Don’t pay an application, administration or “grant release” fee without verifying exactly what it covers
• Ask whether the panels will belong to you and check for any lease, subscription, finance or roof-rental agreement
• Get the system specification, warranties, expected generation and any contribution you must make in writing
• Don’t allow work to begin until the funding has been formally approved
• Compare any paid or partly funded offer with independent quotations

ECO4 funding isn’t distributed as cash to householders, and eligibility doesn’t guarantee a particular measure. Treat any company promising a fixed grant payment or guaranteed solar installation with caution.

How we did our research

To create this guide, we analysed the full range of UK government schemes, devolved nation programmes, and local authority initiatives currently offering financial support for solar panels. We consulted official sources including Ofgem, the UK Government, the Energy Saving Trust, and devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We also spoke to accredited solar installers and reviewed advice from energy industry bodies to ensure the information is accurate and up to date. Where possible, we have linked directly to application pages so you can check eligibility and apply with confidence.

FAQs

Can I get free solar panels in the UK?

Some households may receive fully-funded solar panels through ECO4, the Warm Homes: Local Grant, Nest or a devolved or local scheme. However, there is no universal free solar panel grant open to every UK homeowner. Eligibility usually depends on income, benefits, the property’s energy rating and where you live. Even if you qualify for a scheme, a home assessment will determine whether solar panels are an appropriate improvement.

Can I get solar panels through ECO4?

ECO4 can fund solar panels in eligible homes, but it is a whole-house energy-efficiency scheme rather than a dedicated solar grant. An assessment may recommend solar panels, insulation, heating upgrades or a combination of measures. Meeting the household eligibility rules therefore doesn’t guarantee that solar panels will be included.

Can I get a solar panel grant if I receive benefits?

Receiving an eligible means-tested benefit may help you qualify for ECO4 or another targeted scheme, but it doesn’t automatically entitle you to free solar panels. Your property must also meet the relevant requirements and an energy supplier or scheme provider must agree to fund the recommended work. Child Benefit is subject to separate household-income limits under ECO4.

Can I get a solar panel grant if I don’t receive benefits?

Possibly. ECO4 Flex can support some households that don’t receive qualifying benefits, including those with a combined gross income below £31,000 or a qualifying health vulnerability. The Warm Homes: Local Grant can also cover some homes in eligible postcode areas. Homeowners who don’t qualify for a grant may be able to use interest-free or low-interest finance, group-buying schemes and zero per cent VAT.

Can tenants apply for solar panel grants?

Private tenants may qualify under schemes such as ECO4, ECO4 Flex or the Warm Homes: Local Grant, but the landlord’s permission will be required. The landlord may also need to make a financial contribution under some schemes. Social-housing tenants should ask their landlord whether the property is included in a wider retrofit programme, as they may not be able to apply independently.

How long does a solar panel grant application take?

Timescales vary considerably. Initial eligibility checks may take only a few days, but income verification, landlord permission, property surveys, funding approval and installer availability can make the full process much longer. Ask the scheme provider for its current timescale and don’t arrange work privately while waiting unless it confirms that doing so won’t affect your application.

Who is eligible for solar panel funding?

Eligibility depends on the scheme. Most grants are aimed at lower-income households, people receiving certain benefits, homes with poor EPC ratings and residents covered by local or devolved programmes. Other options, including VAT relief, export payments and some finance schemes, are available more widely. Check the rules for your nation and council area before applying.

Why trust us?

The Independent has been reporting on green energy and climate matters since it was founded in 1986. Our Home Improvement team produces in-depth, impartial reviews on everything from the best solar panels to the cost of solar panel installation and the best solar panel installers in the UK. Each article is researched and fact-checked by our journalists, drawing on government data and expert interviews.

We do not accept payment to feature schemes or installers in our guides. Our aim is to give readers clear, reliable advice that helps them make informed decisions about their homes.

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