How to use these guides

Each guide covers one funding route. It says who the route is for, what its status is and where to apply. We link to the official source on every page so you can check the facts yourself.

We are an independent information site. We do not decide who qualifies, and we cannot promise funding, free panels or savings. The official body that runs each scheme makes the decision.

Two kinds of routes

Some routes are help for specific households. Others work for almost anyone who installs panels. Knowing which kind you are looking at saves time.

Targeted help includes the Warm Homes: Local Grant in England and Nest in Wales. You must meet income, benefit or home rules, and the money runs out. Meanwhile, the Warm Homes Plan sets out where government help is going next.

Help for everyone includes the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays for power you send to the grid. It also includes zero VAT on solar, which lowers the installed price. However, both have rules, such as using an MCS certified installer.

Why status and dates matter

Every guide shows the date we last checked it. Funding news moves fast, so an old page can mislead you. For that reason, always follow the link to the official source before you act.

We write “as of October 2026” when a fact can change. If we could not confirm something, we say so plainly. That way you know what to check yourself.

Schemes that are ending or closed

Some routes have end dates. For example, ECO4 runs until 31 December 2026, and the Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. In Scotland, the main scheme stopped funding solar PV for new applicants in 2024, as our page on Home Energy Scotland explains.

The 0% VAT rate also has an end date of 31 March 2027. As a result, timing can change what you pay. Check each page for the latest position.

Borrowing and consumer rights

If no grant fits, you may think about a loan. The government has announced low-interest solar loans, but as of October 2026 we found no launch date. Our page on solar loans and finance explains how to check a lender and cancel an agreement.

Some councils also run group-buying rounds. These give a price deal rather than a grant. Our guide to council solar schemes and group buying explains how they work.

How routes differ by nation and tenure

Funding is devolved, so England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have different schemes. Tenure matters too. If you rent, you usually need your landlord’s agreement. Start with funding routes by nation to find your page.

Many people ask whether panels can really be free. Our guide to free solar panels in the UK separates the real help from the sales claims. Likewise, our guide to ECO4 and solar panels in 2026 explains why a supplier scheme is not a grant.

What to check before you apply

Before you apply for anything, check three things. First, confirm the scheme is open, because some have closed or have fixed end dates. Second, check that the home and the household meet the rules. Third, make sure the installer is certified.

In addition, never pay a deposit to anyone who contacted you out of the blue. Real grant schemes work through official services and your council. For this reason, our guide on scams and red flags is worth a read first.

Every funding guide

The list below shows every scheme page on the site. Use it to jump to the route that fits your situation. If you want installer prices as a separate, optional step, you can request quotes.

Every funding route

  • ECO4 and solar panels ECO4 can fund solar panels only in limited cases and ends on 31 December 2026. See who may qualify, what suppliers decide and what to check before you sign.
  • Home Energy Scotland and solar panels Home Energy Scotland no longer funds solar PV or home batteries through its Grant and Loan. See what it does fund, who can apply and how to check current help.
  • Smart Export Guarantee for solar panel owners The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for solar power you send to the grid. See who can claim in Great Britain, what you need and how to compare tariffs.
  • Solar panel loans and finance Thinking of borrowing for solar panels? See the planned government loan, the rights you have on credit, how to check a lender and the red flags to avoid.
  • Warm Homes Plan and solar panels What the government's Warm Homes Plan says about solar panels, batteries, grants and loans, which grants are open today, and what is only planned so far.
  • Warm Homes: Local Grant and solar panels How the Warm Homes: Local Grant works in England: who can apply, what your council decides, and why solar panels are possible but never guaranteed for you.
  • Welsh Government Nest and solar panels How the Welsh Government's Nest scheme works, who can apply, how your EPC and income matter, and why solar panels are possible but never guaranteed for you.
  • Zero VAT on solar panels and batteries Solar panels and home batteries installed in your home are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%. See what is covered, who gets it and what to check.
FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

What is the best solar panel funding route in the UK?
There is no single best route, because it depends on your nation, income and tenure. Low-income homes may qualify for a grant, while most homes can use export payments and the VAT cut. Start with the page for your nation.
Are there government grants for solar panels?
Some, but they are targeted. As of October 2026, England's Warm Homes: Local Grant and Wales's Nest can include solar for eligible households. Scotland's main scheme stopped funding solar PV for new applicants in 2024.
Do the funding routes change often?
Yes. Some schemes close, others are announced, and local rounds open and shut. Each page shows the date we checked it and links to the official source.
Do I have to use an installer to get funding?
Most routes need an MCS certified installer. Grants usually arrange the work through the scheme, while export payments need proof of certification. Always check the installer before you sign.