UK solar panel grants can cover up to £30,000 of your installation costs in 2026 through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, ECO4, and 0% VAT on materials and labour. Eligibility depends on your household income, your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating and where in the UK you live. This guide covers every current solar panel grant, exact eligibility rules and the steps to apply, so you know precisely what you can claim before you contact an installer.
What Are Solar Panel Grants?
Solar panel grants are government-funded schemes that cover part or all of the cost of installing solar panels and, in many cases, battery storage. Funding comes from three sources: the central government, energy suppliers, and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
UK solar funding splits into three categories:
Grants: money you don't repay, aimed at low-income and vulnerable households.
Incentives: cost reductions open to every UK household, such as 0% VAT.
Loans: government-backed borrowing that covers upfront costs and gets repaid over time.
Solar Panel Grants UK: Every Scheme Available in 2026
Seven schemes currently fund solar panels across the UK. The table below compares grant amounts, eligibility and region, so you can see which solar panel grants apply to your household at a glance.
Scheme | Grant amount | Who qualifies | Region |
Warm Homes: Local Grant | Up to £30,000 (£15,000 solar/insulation + £15,000 heating) | Household income £36,000 or under, EPC D-G | England |
ECO4 (plus LA Flex) | Up to 100% of the installation cost | On a qualifying benefit or referred via LA Flex, EPC D-G | England, Scotland, Wales |
0% VAT on solar panels | Saves 20% on materials and labour, roughly £1,000-£1,900 | Every UK homeowner | UK-wide |
Warm Homes Fund loans | Low or 0% interest loan, amount to be confirmed | All homeowners, regardless of income | England (launch expected 2027) |
Warm Homes Nest Scheme | Up to 100% of the installation cost | On means-tested benefits, EPC E or below (D with a health condition) | Wales |
Home Energy Scotland Loan | Interest-free loan up to £5,000 | Solar thermal and hybrid PV/water heating systems only | Scotland |
Warm Homes: Local Grant, the Main Solar Panel Grant for 2026
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is the UK's primary solar panel grant, offering up to £30,000 per household, split between £15,000 for energy-efficiency measures such as solar panels and insulation, and £15,000 for low-carbon heating, such as heat pumps. Local councils run the scheme, so it doesn't cover the whole of England yet; check your postcode before you apply.
You typically qualify if you meet all of the following:
Your household income is £36,000 a year or less, or you receive a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Your home has an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
You own your home, or you rent privately and have your landlord's permission.
Your property sits in a participating local authority area in England.
Pensioners on Pension Credit automatically meet the income requirement, making this one of the fastest routes to free solar panels. Social housing tenants can't apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant directly, since it targets privately owned and privately rented homes, but most housing associations run separate free solar panel schemes for council tenants funded through the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund. Check with your housing provider directly.
Landlords can apply for multiple rental properties. The grant fully funds the first property, and landlords contribute 50% of the cost for any additional homes they upgrade.
To apply, use the government's Warm Homes: Local Grant eligibility checker. Enter your postcode and income details, and if you qualify, your local council contacts you within 10 working days to arrange a home survey.
ECO4: Your Last Chance for a Free Solar Panel Grant This Year
ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026, so this is your final opportunity to claim a solar panel grant through this route. The scheme requires large energy suppliers to fund energy-efficiency upgrades for eligible homes, with some households receiving 100% funded solar panels, usually alongside insulation or a new heating system.
You usually qualify for ECO4 if someone in your household receives one of these benefits:
Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Income Support
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
If you don't receive one of these benefits, Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) lets your council refer you anyway, provided you're on a low income or someone in your home has a health condition made worse by cold, such as a respiratory or cardiovascular illness. Your property needs an EPC rating of D or below to qualify, and you must own the home or have written permission from the landlord.
ECO4 is oversubscribed most winters, and suppliers often prioritise homes that are cheaper to upgrade, including those with south or west-facing roofs and no shading. Apply well before the December 2026 deadline, rather than waiting until the scheme is nearly full.
Apply directly through a participating energy supplier such as Ofgem's list of ECO4 obligated suppliers
Solar Power Grants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Regional solar panel grant rules differ sharply from England, so check the exact scheme for your nation before assuming you qualify.
Scotland
Home Energy Scotland stopped funding standard solar PV installations in July 2024. Today, the scheme only offers an interest-free loan of up to £5,000 for solar thermal panels or hybrid solar PV and water-heating systems, not standard rooftop electricity generation. You need to pass an affordability and credit check and pay an admin fee of 1.5% of the loan, capped at £150.
Wales
The Warm Homes Nest Scheme funds up to 100% of solar panel installation costs for eligible Welsh households. You qualify if you receive a means-tested benefit and your home has an EPC rating of E or below, or D or below if you or someone in your household has a qualifying health condition, such as a respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease or a diagnosed mental health condition.
Northern Ireland
No dedicated solar panel grant currently runs in Northern Ireland. Homeowners there rely on green mortgages and standard energy-efficiency loans instead, so it's worth checking with the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy for any new schemes.
0% VAT and Other Solar Panel Incentives
Every UK homeowner pays 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until 31 March 2027, cutting roughly £1,000 to £1,900 off a typical installation compared with the standard 20% rate. Your installer applies the discount automatically at the point of sale; you don't need to apply it separately.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for the electricity your panels export back to the grid. Rates vary by supplier, typically between 20p and 40p per kWh, and you need a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installation and an export meter to qualify.
Warm Homes Fund: Low-Interest Solar Loans Coming in 2027
If your income is too high for a grant, the government-backed Warm Homes Fund will offer low- and 0% interest loans to cover solar panel and battery costs, open to every homeowner regardless of income. The scheme is expected to launch in 2027, with full terms due later in 2026, so this option suits homeowners who can wait rather than those who need funding immediately.
How to Apply for Solar Panel Grants
To apply for a solar panel grant, follow these four steps.
1. Check your EPC rating. Look up your home on the government EPC register. Most grants require a D, E, F, or G rating; apply for a new certificate if yours is missing or has expired.
2. Confirm your income and benefits. Gather payslips, bank statements or benefit award letters, since most schemes are means-tested.
3. Apply through the right channel. Use the gov.uk Warm Homes: Local Grant checker, or contact your energy supplier directly for ECO4.
4. Book an MCS-certified installer. Most solar panel grants and the 0% VAT rate require a certified installer to carry out the work and claim funding on your behalf.
Search the MCS installer database to find a certified installer near you, or read our full guide to solar panel installation costs [/solar-panel-cost-uk] for a breakdown of typical prices before and after funding.
Who Is Eligible for a Solar Panel Grant?
You're most likely to qualify for a solar panel grant if you meet several of these factors at once, rather than just one.
Income: most schemes cap household income at £31,000-£36,000, or accept qualifying benefits instead.
EPC rating: your home usually needs a D, E, F or G rating.
Ownership: You own the property, or you rent privately with the landlord's written consent.
Location: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run separate schemes with different rules.
Health: a household member with a chronic health condition can qualify for LA Flex or Nest Scheme eligibility, even if income exceeds the standard threshold.
How Much Can Solar Panel Grants Save You?
A fully funded solar panel grant saves you the entire installation cost, which runs from around £7,500 for a 2-bedroom home to £13,000 for a 4-bedroom home, including a battery. If you don't qualify for full funding, 0% VAT alone saves £1,000 to £1,900, and SEG payments add £337 to over £1,100 a year, depending on your system size, according to industry averages.
Property size | System size | Average system cost | Estimated annual saving |
2-bedroom | 3 kW (8 panels) | £7,500 | £673 |
3-bedroom | 4.5 kW (12 panels) | £9,800 | £894 |
4-bedroom | 6 kW (16 panels) | £13,000 | £1,129 |
Solar Energy UK data also shows installing solar panels raises average UK property values by roughly £1,800, adding a resale benefit on top of the annual bill savings.
Solar Panel Grants FAQs
Can I get free solar panels in the UK?
Yes. You can get free solar panels through ECO4, the Warm Homes: Local Grant or the Welsh Nest Scheme if your household income falls below the relevant threshold, your home has an EPC rating of D to G, and you receive a qualifying benefit or meet your council's low-income criteria.
Can you get a grant for solar panels in the UK?
Yes. The two main UK-wide options are the Warm Homes: Local Grant, worth up to £30,000 for households earning £36,000 or less, and ECO4, which offers up to 100% funding until 31 December 2026 for households on qualifying benefits.
Are there government grants for solar panels for everyone?
No. Full solar panel grants target low-income and vulnerable households. Every UK homeowner can still access 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries until March 2027, and government-backed loans are expected to be available from 2027 for those who don't qualify for a grant.
Can I get free solar panels on Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Yes. Receiving a PIP is a qualifying benefit for ECO4, so you could get a 100%-funded solar panel installation if your home also meets the EPC D-G requirement. PIP recipients can also access ECO4 through LA Flex even if their income sits above the standard threshold.
Can pensioners get free solar panels?
Yes. Pensioners receiving Pension Credit automatically meet the income requirement for both ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant, making these the two fastest routes to a fully funded installation for retired households.
Do council tenants qualify for solar panel grants?
No, not directly through the Warm Homes: Local Grant or ECO4, since both target privately owned and privately rented homes. Council and housing association tenants should instead ask their landlord about the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund, which funds solar panels and other upgrades in social housing separately.
How much money can I get from a solar panel grant?
Up to £30,000 through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, split into £15,000 for solar panels or insulation and £15,000 for heating, or up to 100% of your installation cost through ECO4, depending on your circumstances and your home's condition.
