Solar panel grants in the UK: what help exists today

Many people ask whether the government will pay for solar panels. The honest answer is that most households pay themselves, while a few can get help. This guide sets out what we can confirm today for England, Scotland and Wales. It also shows how to spot grant claims that are too good to be true.

Schemes change often, so check the official page before you act. We link to each source below. We are an independent guide and do not run or approve any grant.

The help everyone gets: 0% VAT

The one saving that does not depend on your income is VAT. HMRC applies a zero rate to installing solar panels and batteries from 1 May 2023 to 31 March 2027. That means you pay no VAT on the installed system while the relief runs.

However, the relief has an end date. From 1 April 2027 the rate reverts to 5% under current rules. A future announcement could change that, so treat the date as the one on the books today. Our guide to VAT on solar panels explains what qualifies, including batteries added later.

England: Warm Homes: Local Grant

England’s main scheme for solar is Warm Homes: Local Grant. Local authorities deliver it, with £500m allocated for April 2025 to March 2028. DESNZ guidance lists solar PV as an eligible measure, alongside domestic batteries and smart controls.

Eligibility is narrow. According to GOV.UK, your home must be in England and privately owned. You must have a low income, and your Energy Performance Certificate rating must be D to G. Owner-occupied and privately rented homes can both qualify.

Batteries have had a stop-start history. They were added in June 2025 and paused in November 2025. Installs could resume from 2 February 2026. Because rules like this shift, ask your local council for the current position.

Councils run the scheme locally, so what you can get depends on where you live. The wider Warm Homes Plan also names solar PV and batteries for its low-income schemes. It sets an aim of solar panels on up to 3 million more homes by 2030. An aim is not a grant, so you cannot apply to it directly.

If you do not meet the income and EPC rules, you will pay for a system yourself. Our solar panel costs guide shows what that typically involves.

Scotland: Home Energy Scotland

In Scotland, the place to start is Home Energy Scotland, which is run for the Scottish Government. Its grants and loans page lists hybrid solar PV-T systems for funding. These make heat and power from one panel. The loan is up to £5,000, and no grant is listed.

Standard solar PV and batteries are not listed on that page. Therefore, do not assume Home Energy Scotland will fund a normal rooftop system. Contact the service or read its page to confirm before you book anything.

Your costs and your roof still matter in Scotland. For example, solar panels in Edinburgh have their own local planning notes and yield data. Your installer can price a standard system while you check what funding applies.

Wales: Nest

Wales runs a scheme called Nest. The Welsh Government says Nest can recommend a tailored package of improvements. That package could include a boiler repair or replacement, a heat pump, insulation and solar panels.

Nest advisers check whether you are eligible, so you cannot assume you qualify. Start with a call or an online enquiry to Nest. Meanwhile, see the notes on solar panels in Cardiff for local planning and yield facts.

We found no other Welsh grant for standard rooftop solar that we could confirm. That may change, so check gov.wales for news.

ECO4 and GBIS: what happened to them

You may see adverts for the Energy Company Obligation, or ECO4. The government has extended ECO4 to 31 December 2026. It says there will be no successor supplier scheme, and it is funding grants instead, according to the government response.

Solar PV is not named as an ECO4 measure on Ofgem’s ECO page. So be careful if a caller or advert promises free solar through ECO4. Ask for the scheme rules in writing.

The Great British Insulation Scheme has closed. Ofgem says it began in April 2023 and ended on 31 March 2026. Its page does not mention solar PV.

Payments for the power you export

Not every kind of help is a grant. The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for spare power you send to the grid. Suppliers must offer a tariff but can set the terms, so rates vary. You must show your installation and installer are certified under MCS or an equivalent scheme, as GOV.UK explains.

SEG does not cut your upfront cost, but it adds to your savings over time. How much it adds depends on your tariff and how much power you export, so we cannot give you a figure. Our Smart Export Guarantee explainer shows how to compare tariffs.

How to spot a grant scam

Genuine schemes have official pages, clear rules and an eligibility check. Scams use pressure instead, because pressure stops you checking. Watch for these signs.

• A cold call or door knock that claims you have been “selected” for a free system.
• A deadline such as “the grant ends this week” with no link to an official page.
• A promise of free panels before anyone has seen your roof or your income details.
• A request for a deposit to “secure” a grant place.
• No MCS certificate, which you need to claim SEG payments later.

If something feels wrong, stop and check the scheme on its gov.uk, gov.wales or Home Energy Scotland page. Our guide to solar installer red flags lists more warning signs and what to do about them.

What to do next

Start by checking the official page for your nation. If you may qualify, apply to the scheme before you sign anything with an installer. If you do not, plan on paying yourself and use the 0% VAT window while it runs.

Whichever route you take, keep every promise in writing. A genuine installer will put the grant terms, the price and the warranty on paper, since it has nothing to hide. Take your time, because a good offer will still be there next week.

Read how our solar panel installation service works, so you know what a referral covers. When you are ready to compare prices, you can ask for quotes from MCS-certified installers. We never promise a grant, and no installer should either.