UK Solar Grants and Funding in 2026: What's Actually Available

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There’s no single “solar grant” in the UK the way there once was under the old Feed-in Tariff. Instead, there’s a handful of separate reliefs and schemes, each covering a different part of a home energy upgrade. Here’s what’s actually live in 2026.

0% VAT on solar and battery installations

Residential solar panel and battery storage installations currently qualify for 0% VAT. This relief is due to run until 31 March 2027 based on current government policy, after which it’s set to revert to 5%. It applies automatically through your installer’s quote, there’s nothing separate to apply for.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (for heat pumps)

Not solar-specific, but relevant if you’re considering a heat pump alongside solar. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off an air source heat pump replacing a gas boiler, rising to £9,000 for homes moving off oil or LPG heating (from July 2026). Your installer applies on your behalf as part of the quote process.

The EV Chargepoint Grant

Covers up to £500 per socket toward a home EV charger, currently limited to renters and flat owners; homeowners with a private driveway are no longer eligible. Relevant if you’re pairing solar with an EV charger. See our EV charger guide for details.

ECO4

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) funds insulation and heating upgrades for low-income and vulnerable households, and can sometimes include heat pumps as part of a wider package. It’s not generally available for solar panels specifically, and eligibility is based on benefits received and EPC rating, not just income.

What isn’t available any more

• The Feed-in Tariff, closed to new applicants since 2019, replaced by the Smart Export Guarantee (see our SEG explainer)
• The original Green Homes Grant, closed since 2021
• Most council-run “free solar panel” schemes, largely wound down; treat any offer of genuinely free panels with scepticism and check who owns the system and what strings are attached

How to actually use this

None of these need you to apply first and then find an installer, in practice your installer builds the applicable relief or grant into your quote. The most useful thing you can do is get quotes from more than one installer and check the grant or VAT treatment is clearly itemised. Get matched with vetted installers who can confirm what you actually qualify for.