What has changed in Scotland

Scotland used to fund solar panels through its main home energy scheme. That stopped for most people in 2024. Therefore, the picture here is different from England or Wales.

The Scottish Government says the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan no longer funds solar PV or home batteries. This applies to people who were given an application link after 6 June 2024. The scheme now focuses on heating and insulation. For the full detail, see our page on Home Energy Scotland funding.

What the scheme funds now

As of October 2026, the official page lists several measures. Funding is first come, first served and depends on availability. Because of that, check the page for current amounts before you plan.

  • Heat pumps, heat network connections and biomass boilers, with a grant up to £7,500 and an optional interest-free loan.
  • Solid wall insulation, with a grant up to £7,500.
  • Loft, cavity and underfloor insulation, with a grant up to £1,500.
  • Solar PV-T, which makes both power and hot water, as a loan up to £5,000. Only PV-T systems are eligible.

Do not start work before you have a written funding offer. You then have nine months to finish the job. Meanwhile, your installer must be MCS certified.

Warmer Homes Scotland

Warmer Homes Scotland is for households that may be in or at risk of fuel poverty. You must own your home or rent privately, and live there as your main home. The household also needs someone aged 75 or over with no working heating, someone with a specific medical certificate, or someone getting a passport benefit.

The page lists wall insulation, loft insulation, draught-proofing, central heating and a home renewables system. However, it does not name solar panels or batteries. We could not confirm whether solar is still included, so ask Home Energy Scotland before you apply. Completing the self-assessment does not guarantee funding.

Help that still applies in Scotland

Two UK-wide routes work here too. The Smart Export Guarantee covers Great Britain, so Scottish homes with solar can be paid for exported power. Suppliers set their own rates, so compare tariffs.

Meanwhile, zero VAT on solar applies across the UK. As of October 2026, the 0% rate runs until 31 March 2027. Check HMRC guidance before you rely on that date.

Borrowing and finance

Because there is no standard solar grant, many households look at borrowing. Our page on solar loans and finance explains how to check a lender with the FCA. It also covers your 14-day right to cancel a credit agreement.

The UK government has announced low-cost loans for solar. These come from the Warm Homes Plan, which aims them at homeowners across Great Britain. However, eligibility and delivery in Scotland are not yet confirmed, and as of October 2026 we found no launch date.

Tenants and landlords

Private tenants need their landlord’s agreement for any work. Warmer Homes Scotland covers privately rented homes, although the rules differ by scheme. Read our guide to solar panels for renters and landlords for the basics.

Choosing an installer

Whichever route you take, the installer matters because schemes check it. For grants and export payments, you need an MCS certified installer. Our guide shows how to check an MCS certified installer in a few minutes.

You will also need your EPC for most schemes. For example, Scotland uses its own register, which the Scottish Government runs through Energy Saving Trust. Search it by postcode on the Scottish EPC Register.

How Scotland differs from the other nations

Funding is devolved, so help in one nation may not exist in another. England’s grant is called the Warm Homes: Local Grant. You can read about solar funding routes in England to compare. Northern Ireland has no general homeowner grant, as our page on solar funding routes in Northern Ireland explains.

Where to start

Start with Home Energy Scotland, because it gives free and impartial advice. Its Funding Finder asks for your postcode and shows what you may be able to get. We found no confirmed information on funding levels for 2026/27, so check for the latest position.

Our step-by-step guide to solar funding in Scotland walks through this in order. If you want prices as a separate, optional step, you can request quotes.

FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Can I get a grant for solar panels in Scotland?
Not through the main Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme for people given an application link after 6 June 2024. It now funds mainly heating and insulation. Check Home Energy Scotland for what is available now.
Does Warmer Homes Scotland fund solar panels?
We could not confirm this. The official page lists a home renewables system but does not name solar panels or batteries. Ask Home Energy Scotland whether solar is included before you apply.
Can I get paid for exporting solar power in Scotland?
Yes, the Smart Export Guarantee covers Great Britain, which includes Scotland. Suppliers set their own rates, which must be above zero. You need an MCS certified installation and a meter that records exports.
Is there VAT on solar panels in Scotland?
As of October 2026, installing solar panels in a home carries 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the rate becomes 5%. Check GOV.UK before you rely on the date.