What Home Energy Scotland is

Home Energy Scotland is the Scottish Government’s energy advice service. It gives free, impartial advice on saving energy and keeping warm. It also runs funding schemes, including the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan.

This page is independent information. We are not Home Energy Scotland, a lender or an installer. The official service decides who qualifies.

Its Funding Finder tool asks for your postcode, so it shows what may be open to you. That is a good place to start.

Who it is for

The Grant and Loan is for Scottish homeowners. The installer must be MCS certified and use MCS certified products. Many people in Scotland want to know what else exists, so see our guide to solar funding routes in Scotland.

Warmer Homes Scotland is a different scheme for people who may be in or at risk of fuel poverty. You must own your home or rent from a private landlord. The household must also include someone aged 75 or over with no working heating, someone with a specific medical certificate, or someone on a passport benefit.

If you live in England, funding works differently. Our page on solar funding routes in England explains the English routes.

What it can pay for

This is the point most people miss. After 6 June 2024, the Grant and Loan no longer funds solar PV or energy storage systems. The Scottish Government confirmed it stopped issuing new funding for them. Before that, solar and storage were paid for only as part of a package with a heat pump or storage heaters.

The scheme still funds other upgrades. As of October 2026, the official page lists heat pumps, solid wall insulation, loft and underfloor insulation, and high heat retention storage heaters. Solar PV-T, which makes both power and hot water, is listed as a loan only.

Amounts change, so check the official page. For example, a grant for a heat pump can be up to £7,500, with an optional interest-free loan of the same size. Funding is first come, first served and depends on availability.

Current status

For solar PV and batteries, the Grant and Loan is closed to new applicants. The change has applied since June 2024. We found no sign that it has reopened.

For other measures, the scheme still takes applications. We could not confirm 2026/27 funding levels. Check the Home Energy Scotland page for current availability.

However, Warmer Homes Scotland lists “installing a home renewables system”. It does not name solar PV or batteries. We could not confirm either way, so ask Home Energy Scotland.

How to apply or take the next step

Go to the Home Energy Scotland website and use the Funding Finder. Or contact the advice service using the details on the official site. Completing the Warmer Homes Scotland self-assessment does not guarantee funding.

Do not start work before you hold a written funding offer, because work started early may not be paid for. You usually have nine months to finish after you sign.

If you want panels without a grant, you can still earn from exports. The Smart Export Guarantee pays for spare power in Great Britain. The zero VAT rate on solar lowers the installed price until 31 March 2027, and solar loans and finance explains borrowing safely.

Our guides to solar funding in Scotland step by step and battery funding in the UK go further.

What to check before you agree to anything

Because the grant no longer covers solar, be wary of anyone who says it does. A caller who promises a Scottish Government grant for panels may be misleading you. Look for the offer on the official site first.

Before you sign, work through this list. It keeps you in control of the deal.

  • Ask for the funding offer in writing before work starts.
  • Check the installer’s MCS certificate on the MCS website.
  • Compare at least three quotes.
  • Read any finance terms in full.

Our solar finance checklist has more questions to ask.

FAQ / QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Can I get a Home Energy Scotland grant for solar panels?
Not through the Grant and Loan scheme if you got an application link after 6 June 2024. The scheme stopped funding solar PV and energy storage then. Only solar PV-T, which makes both power and hot water, is listed, and only as a loan.
What does the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan pay for now?
It funds measures such as heat pumps, insulation and high heat retention storage heaters. Funding is first come, first served and depends on availability. Check the official page for the current list and amounts.
Does Warmer Homes Scotland fit solar panels?
We could not confirm this. The official page lists a home renewables system but does not name solar PV or batteries. Ask Home Energy Scotland whether solar is included for your home.
Can I still earn money from solar in Scotland?
Yes, if you already have or buy panels yourself. The Smart Export Guarantee covers Great Britain, including Scotland, and suppliers set their own rates.