There is no single grant that pays for solar panels on every UK home. Support is aimed at lower-income households, and what you can claim depends mainly on where you live, your household income and your home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Timing matters too, because one scheme closes this year and a tax relief that lowers installation costs for every household changes in 2027.
This guide to solar panel grants in the UK sets out what is available in 2026, who each scheme is for and what to do if you do not qualify. It is written for homeowners in Essex and across the rest of the country.
Are there grants for solar panels in the UK?
Yes, but only for some households. The main schemes are below.
| Scheme | Where | Who it is for | What it can mean for solar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | England | Privately owned homes with an EPC rating of D to G, usually with a household income of £36,000 or less | Your council can arrange and pay for improvements, which can include solar panels |
| ECO4 | Great Britain | Households on certain benefits, in homes with an EPC rating of D to G (E to G for private renters) | Solar PV is funded only in some homes, depending on the heating system. Ends 31 December 2026 |
| Nest | Wales | Households that meet the Nest criteria | A package of free improvements that can include solar panels |
| Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan | Scotland | Homeowners | An interest-free loan of up to £5,000 for solar thermal and hybrid solar PV and water heating panels, but not for standard solar PV |
The pattern is clear. Government grants for solar panels are concentrated on households that are on lower incomes or receive benefits, so grant money for solar panels rarely reaches anyone outside those groups. Everyone else can still benefit from two forms of support that are not grants, covered further down.
Warm Homes: Local Grant in England
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is the main route for homeowners in England. If your home is privately owned, has an EPC rating of D to G and your household income is usually £36,000 a year or less, your council can arrange and pay for improvements, and GOV.UK lists solar panels among them. You may also qualify through your postcode or if someone in your household receives certain benefits.
Councils deliver the grant using the funding they receive, so availability depends on your area. You apply through GOV.UK and then wait for your council to contact you. Our guide to the Warm Homes Plan and solar panels covers eligibility, the application steps and how the Local Grant fits into the wider plan.
ECO4 and solar panels
ECO4 is funded by energy suppliers and has mainly paid for insulation and heating upgrades. Solar panels are covered only in limited cases. Under Ofgem's delivery guidance, solar PV is an eligible measure only where the home's heating meets set criteria, which cover certain electric and low-carbon systems. In practice, that means solar is usually funded where the home has, or is getting, a qualifying heating system, rather than as a standalone upgrade. A home heated by a standard gas boiler is therefore unlikely to get solar through ECO4 alone.
To qualify you generally need to live in private housing and receive one of the benefits listed on GOV.UK, such as Universal Credit, Pension Guarantee Credit or Child Benefit. Owners need an EPC rating of D to G. Private renters need an E to G rating and the owner's permission.
Timing is the main constraint. The government extended ECO4 to 31 December 2026, announced that there will be no successor obligation and closed the Great British Insulation Scheme on 31 March 2026. GOV.UK describes the remaining ECO4 obligation volume as limited, so any solar offer under the scheme should be treated as closing this year. The government has directed new grant funding for low-income households through the Warm Homes Plan instead.
Solar panel grants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Wales, Nest can confirm whether you are eligible for a package of free home energy improvements, which GOV.WALES says can include solar panels alongside insulation.
In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers homeowners an interest-free loan of up to £5,000 for solar thermal and hybrid solar PV and water heating systems. It does not fund standard solar PV panels, and because it is a loan, you repay it. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and you cannot start work until you have a written funding offer.
Northern Ireland has its own schemes, so check NI Direct for the current energy-saving support, as it differs from the rest of the UK.
Support for solar that is not a grant
Two forms of support apply to most households, whatever their income.
The first is VAT. The installation of solar panels in a home is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, and GOV.UK says it reverts to the reduced rate of 5% from 1 April 2027. The relief applies whatever your household income, which makes it the most widely available government support for solar.
The second is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). It is a payment rather than a grant, and it pays you for surplus electricity that your solar panels send back to the grid. Tariff rates vary by supplier, any SEG tariff must stay above zero, and you can choose a SEG licensee that is not your current energy supplier, so it is worth comparing before you sign up.
Spotting a genuine solar grant offer
Searches for free solar panels attract unsolicited calls and adverts, so it helps to know what a real offer looks like. GOV.UK notes that installers or agents can contact you directly about ECO4. If you are not sure that an offer is genuine, you can check with your local council or with the energy supplier the installer says it represents before you share any personal details.
For the Local Grant, you apply through GOV.UK and your council contacts you. If a company claims to be offering the grant on the council's behalf, a quick call to the council will confirm it.
What if you do not qualify for a grant?
Most households fall outside these schemes, particularly where income is above the threshold or the EPC rating is already C or better. That does not rule out solar. A survey can show what size of home solar panel system suits your roof and usage, and GOV.UK estimates that solar panels save the average household over £500 a year, depending on how much of the electricity you use yourself.
If you are weighing up the costs, our guide to whether solar panels are worth it in Essex goes through the savings and what to expect. Adding a battery can increase the amount of solar electricity you use yourself by storing surplus energy for the evening rather than exporting it. Our solar and battery bundles show how the two work together, and our battery storage page covers the options for homes.
Find out what solar could do for your home
If you do not qualify for a grant, a survey is the quickest way to see what solar could save you. Our team can talk you through the options and arrange a free design quote and site survey. We install across Essex, including Colchester and Chelmsford. See our home solar panels page, or get a quote to start.
Further reading: the Warm Homes Plan announcement.