Solar Panel Grants and Funding in the UK
There is no UK-wide solar panel grant that everyone can get. Here is what does exist, last reviewed in September 2026.
Check What You May Be Eligible ForIs There a Solar Panel Grant in the UK?
Not one that everyone can get. Most households pay for solar panels themselves. What is available in September 2026:
- 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries - on installation until 31 March 2027, then 5%
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) - suppliers pay you for electricity you export (Great Britain only)
- Warm Homes: Local Grant - councils in England can fund solar panels for eligible households
- Warm Homes Nest (Wales) - free improvements for eligible households, which could include solar panels
UK Energy Partnership is run by Harber Glaves Trading Ltd. We are not a government body and cannot decide who gets funding — check eligibility with the official scheme.
0% VAT on Solar Panels and Batteries
Installations of energy-saving materials, including solar panels and batteries, are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate is due to go back to the reduced rate of 5%. The installer applies the rate on your invoice, so there is nothing to apply for.
What's Covered:
- Solar panels, supplied and installed
- Battery storage, supplied and installed
Not covered: panels or batteries bought without installation, which are charged at the standard rate.
Typical Costs:
Typical costs, last reviewed September 2026. Your quote will depend on your roof and the system you choose. Source for VAT: HMRC VAT Notice 708/6.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Energy suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers must offer a Smart Export Guarantee tariff that pays you for electricity you export to the grid. There is no set rate, but any SEG tariff must pay more than zero. The old Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants from 1 April 2019.
What Were Suppliers Paying?
Per kWh exported. Source: Solar Energy UK SEG league table, updated 12 May 2026. Rates change often, so check suppliers' own websites. See the full May 2026 table.
To qualify you need an installation certified through MCS (or an equivalent scheme such as Flexi-Orb), a meter capable of providing half-hourly export readings, and a home in Great Britain. The SEG is not available in Northern Ireland.
Warm Homes: Local Grant (England)
Warm Homes: Local Grant is run by local councils in England, with delivery until 31 March 2028. The improvements it can pay for include solar panels, as well as insulation, air source heat pumps and smart controls. What you get depends on a home survey and on whether your council has funding available.
Who May Be Eligible?
- Your home is in England and privately owned, either by you or your landlord
- It has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G
- Household income is usually £36,000 a year or less; if it is higher, you may still be eligible if you live in certain postcode areas or someone in your household gets certain benefits
If you own your home, the council pays for the work it agrees with you. If you rent, your landlord may need to contribute. Councils can spend on average up to £16,600 per home on energy performance upgrades and up to £16,600 on low-carbon heating, but these are averages across a project, not an amount each household gets.
Warm Homes: Local Grant helpline: 0800 098 7950
What About ECO4?
ECO4 is not a grant scheme and it ends on 31 December 2026, with no successor. GOV.UK describes the help it offers as insulation and heating upgrades, not solar panels. Any ECO4 work may be fully or partly funded, and you may be asked to contribute. Read our ECO4 guide.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Wales: Warm Homes Nest scheme
Free home energy efficiency improvements for eligible households, which could include a boiler, heat pump, insulation or solar panels. You must own or privately rent your home and either receive a means-tested benefit or live in a low-income household. Nest on GOV.WALES · 0808 808 2244
Scotland: Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Funding for standalone solar PV or batteries is not currently listed. Only solar PV-T systems, which produce electricity and heat, are eligible, for a loan of up to £5,000 (no grant). Home Energy Scotland
Northern Ireland
The Smart Export Guarantee does not apply in Northern Ireland. For current energy-saving grants, see nidirect.
Paying for Solar Yourself
If you don't qualify for a scheme, you can still spread the cost. Government-backed low and zero-interest loans have been announced under the Warm Homes Plan, but they are not yet open to households; lenders are still being signed up.
Loans and Installer Finance
- Personal loans, or finance arranged through the installer
- Compare the APR and the total amount you will repay
- Check the lender is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- Weigh repayments against realistic savings, not best-case figures
Interest-Free Offers
- Some installers offer an interest-free period
- Check what rate applies once the offer period ends
- Read the credit agreement in full before signing
- Do not let a time-limited offer rush your decision
Ready to Get Solar Quotes?
Send a free enquiry and Better Home Hub can introduce solar installers who cover your area. We can't decide who gets grant funding; councils and scheme administrators do.
Ask for Solar QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Can I get free solar panels in the UK?
There is no UK-wide free solar scheme. In England, Warm Homes: Local Grant can include solar panels for eligible households, and owner-occupiers do not pay for the work the council agrees. In Wales, the Warm Homes Nest scheme could include solar panels for eligible households. Everyone else pays for their own system, with 0% VAT on installation until 31 March 2027.
How much can I earn from the Smart Export Guarantee?
It depends on your tariff and how much you export. In Solar Energy UK's table updated 12 May 2026, tariffs open to anyone paid 1p to 6p per kWh, tariffs requiring you to buy electricity from the supplier paid 5.6p to 15.1p, and tariffs tied to an installation by the supplier paid 15p to 25p. Rates change often.
Can I get grants for solar battery storage?
There is no general battery grant. Installed batteries are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%. The Energy Saving Trust puts battery storage at around £5,000 to £8,000.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
In England, solar panels on a house may be permitted development, with no need to apply for planning permission, but there are limits and conditions that must be met. Rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ. Check with your local planning authority before installing.
How long does it take to get solar panels installed?
It varies with the survey, system design, equipment and any scaffolding, so ask each installer for a timeline in writing. Under Warm Homes: Local Grant, the council will usually contact you within 10 working days of applying, then arrange a survey if you are eligible and it has funding.
Before You Sign Anything
Compare more than one quote and check any installer on the MCS register. An MCS-certified installation (or equivalent) is needed for SEG payments.
Send a Free Solar Enquiry