Can I get free solar panels in the UK in 2026?

Yes, but only through the ECO4 scheme if you qualify. ECO4 can cover 100% of installation costs for low-income households in properties rated EPC D-G. You need to be receiving certain means-tested benefits. The old 'rent-a-roof' free solar panel schemes no longer exist.

What solar panel grants are available in the UK?

The main solar panel grants UK homeowners can access in 2026 are: 0% VAT (saving £1,000-£2,000, automatic until March 2027), ECO4 scheme (up to 100% funding for eligible low-income households, runs until December 2026), Warm Homes: Local Grant (up to £15,000 for eligible households), Smart Export Guarantee (ongoing payments for exported electricity), and various local council grants that vary by area.

Who qualifies for the ECO4 solar panel scheme?

To qualify for ECO4 solar panels, your property must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G, and you must be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Your energy supplier or a local authority can refer you.

How much does the 0% VAT save on solar panels?

The 0% VAT on solar panels saves roughly £1,000 to £2,000 on a typical residential installation. Before the relief, VAT was charged at 5%. The 0% rate applies to solar panels, batteries, and other energy-saving materials installed in residential properties. It runs until March 2027.

How do I apply for solar panel funding?

For ECO4, contact your energy supplier or local council to check eligibility. For 0% VAT, it's applied automatically by your installer. For the Smart Export Guarantee, sign up with a participating energy supplier after installation. For local council grants, check your council's website or call their energy efficiency team.

What is the Smart Export Guarantee?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for surplus electricity your solar panels export to the grid. Rates range from 1p to 31p per kWh depending on your supplier and tariff type. You need an MCS-certified installation and a smart meter to qualify. Typical annual income is £170-£800.

Are solar panel grant scams common?

Yes, solar panel scams are unfortunately common. Watch out for cold calls or doorstep visits claiming you qualify for 'free government solar panels', pressure to sign up immediately, requests for upfront fees to 'secure' a grant, and companies that aren't MCS-certified. Genuine schemes never require upfront fees and you can always take time to decide.

Can I get solar panel grants if I'm not on benefits?

If you're not on means-tested benefits, you won't qualify for ECO4 funding. However, all homeowners benefit from 0% VAT (saving £1,000-£2,000), the Smart Export Guarantee (ongoing income from exported electricity), and any local council grants in your area. Some councils offer schemes regardless of income.

Will there be new solar panel grants in 2026?

The Warm Homes: Local Grant has been live since April 2025, providing up to £15,000 per eligible household for energy efficiency improvements including solar panels. You need a household income below £36,000 or be receiving means-tested benefits, and your property must have an EPC rating of D-G. Contact your local council to apply.

Solar Panel Grants UK 2026 — Free Panels, Government Schemes & Funding

Q: Is the government solar panel scheme still running?

The ECO4 government solar panel scheme runs until December 2026. The 0% VAT relief runs until March 2027. The Warm Homes: Local Grant has been live since April 2025, providing up to £15,000 per eligible household for solar panels and energy efficiency improvements.

Key Takeaways

0% VAT saves every homeowner £1,000-£2,000 — applied automatically, runs until March 2027
ECO4 can cover 100% of costs for low-income households — runs until December 2026
Smart Export Guarantee pays you 1-31p per kWh for exported electricity — ongoing
Warm Homes: Local Grant provides up to £15,000 per household — live since April 2025
There is no universal free solar panel grant for all homeowners

Solar Panel Grants in the UK: What's Actually Available?

If you've searched for solar panel grants UK homeowners can claim, you'll have found a lot of conflicting information. Some websites promise free solar panels for everyone. Others suggest there are no grants at all. The truth sits somewhere in the middle.

There is no single government grant that pays for solar panels on every home. But there are several schemes that reduce what you pay, and for some households, solar panel funding can cover the entire cost. The main support comes from 0% VAT (which benefits everyone), the ECO4 scheme (for low-income households), and the Smart Export Guarantee (which pays you for surplus electricity after installation).

This guide covers every solar panel grant and government solar panel scheme available in 2026, who qualifies, how to apply, and what to watch out for. We've kept it honest — if a scheme sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

All Available Solar Panel Grants and Schemes

Here's a summary of every solar panel grant UK homeowners can access in 2026. We'll go into each one in detail below.

Grant / Scheme	What You Get	Who Qualifies	Status
0% VAT	£1,000-£2,000 saving on installation	All homeowners	Active until March 2027
ECO4 Scheme	Up to 100% of installation costs	Low-income, EPC D-G, on qualifying benefits	Active until December 2026
Great British Insulation Scheme	Insulation measures (not solar directly)	Low-income households, Council Tax bands A-D	Active until March 2026
Warm Homes: Local Grant	Up to £15,000 per household	Income below £36,000 or on benefits, EPC D-G	Active since April 2025
Smart Export Guarantee	1-31p per kWh for exported electricity	MCS-certified installation + smart meter	Active, ongoing
Local Council Grants	Varies by area (£500-£5,000+)	Varies by council	Varies

0% VAT on Solar Panels

The single most valuable solar panel grant UK homeowners can use right now is, technically, not a grant at all. It's a VAT cut. Since April 2022, solar panels, batteries, and other energy-saving materials carry 0% VAT when installed on residential properties.

0% VAT at a Glance

Saving: roughly £1,000-£2,000 on a typical installation
Runs until: 31 March 2027
How to claim: automatic — your installer applies the 0% rate
Covers: solar panels, batteries, inverters, and installation labour
After March 2027: VAT reverts to 5%

Before this relief was introduced, you'd pay 5% VAT on solar installations. On a £7,000 system, that's a saving of around £350 compared to the old rate, or around £1,400 compared to the standard 20% VAT rate. The exact saving depends on your system size.

You don't need to do anything to claim this. Every MCS-certified installer will apply the 0% rate automatically. If an installer quotes you with VAT included on a residential job, ask them about it — they may have made a mistake.

The relief is set to end in March 2027. The government hasn't indicated whether it will be extended. If you're thinking about solar, this is one reason not to wait.

ECO4 Scheme — Free Solar Panels for Eligible Households

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is the closest thing to a government solar panel scheme that provides free solar panels in the UK. It's funded by the big energy suppliers and has covered over 38,000 solar installations to date.

How ECO4 Works

Under ECO4, energy companies are required to fund energy efficiency improvements in low-income homes. Solar panels are one of the eligible measures. If you qualify, ECO4 solar panels can be installed at no cost to you — the energy company pays for everything.

The scheme takes a "whole-house" approach, meaning your home is assessed for the combination of improvements that will have the greatest impact. Solar panels might be installed alongside insulation, a new boiler, or other measures.

Who Qualifies for ECO4 Solar Panels?

To be eligible, you need to meet all of these conditions:

Your property has an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of D, E, F, or G
You receive a qualifying means-tested benefit
The measures would improve your EPC rating by at least one band

Qualifying benefits include:

Universal Credit
Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
Child Tax Credit (with income under £16,480)
Working Tax Credit (with income under £16,480)
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Housing Benefit

Some local authorities can also refer households under the "LA Flex" pathway, which uses different eligibility criteria based on local need. This can include households not on benefits but in fuel poverty. Contact your council to ask if they participate.

ECO4 Deadline Warning

ECO4 runs until December 2026 and is not being renewed in its current form. If you think you qualify, apply now. Processing and installation can take several months, and solar panel funding through ECO4 is allocated on a first-come basis.

How to Apply for ECO4

Check your EPC rating at epcregister.com (search by postcode)
Contact your energy supplier and ask about ECO4 eligibility
Alternatively, contact your local council's energy efficiency team
An assessor will visit your home to determine which measures are suitable
If approved, installation is arranged at no cost to you

Warm Homes Plan and Great British Insulation Scheme

The government's £15 billion Warm Homes Plan aims to upgrade 5 million homes by 2030. The first phase — the Warm Homes: Local Grant — has been live since April 2025, providing up to £15,000 per eligible household for energy efficiency improvements including solar panels.

Warm Homes: Local Grant

The first phase of the Warm Homes Plan launched in April 2025 as the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered through local authorities. It provides up to £15,000 per household for energy efficiency improvements including solar panels, heat pumps, and insulation.

Who qualifies:

Household income below £36,000, or receiving means-tested benefits
Property with an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
Homeowners and private tenants (with landlord agreement) in England

Contact your local council to check whether they are delivering the Warm Homes: Local Grant in your area, as rollout varies by region. The broader Warm Homes Plan, which aims to upgrade 5 million homes by 2030 with £15 billion in funding, may introduce additional measures such as zero-interest loans for all homeowners. Details on further phases haven't been confirmed yet.

Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

GBIS focuses on insulation rather than solar panels directly, but it's worth mentioning because improving your home's insulation makes solar panels more effective — less energy wasted means more of your solar electricity goes further.

The scheme covers cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, and solid wall insulation for qualifying households. If you're in Council Tax bands A-D (England) or A-E (Scotland and Wales) and receiving certain benefits, you may be eligible.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

The Smart Export Guarantee isn't solar panel funding in the traditional sense — it's ongoing income. Once your solar panels are installed, your energy supplier pays you for every unit of electricity you export to the grid.

SEG rates vary widely between suppliers:

Tariff Type	Rate	Requirements	Typical Annual Income
Basic fixed rate	1-8p/kWh	MCS certification + smart meter	£50-£300
Good fixed rate	12-16p/kWh	MCS certification + smart meter	£300-£600
Time-of-use (e.g. Octopus Flux)	Up to 29-31p/kWh (peak)	Battery + smart meter + specific supplier	£500-£800

The best straightforward rates in early 2026 include Good Energy at 25p/kWh, EDF at 24p/kWh, and OVO at 20p/kWh. If you have a battery and can time your exports for the 4-7pm peak window, time-of-use tariffs pay significantly more.

For a full breakdown of current rates, see our Smart Export Guarantee tariffs guide.

To qualify for SEG payments, your installation must be MCS-certified and you need a smart meter. Any supplier with more than 150,000 customers is required to offer an SEG tariff, though the rate they set is up to them.

Local Council Solar Panel Grants

Beyond national schemes, many local councils run their own solar panel funding programmes. These vary hugely in terms of what's offered and who can apply.

Some councils offer direct grants towards solar panel installation. Others provide interest-free loans or group buying schemes where residents can access bulk-discounted prices. A few run community energy projects that install solar on council housing and shared buildings.

How to Find Local Solar Panel Grants

Search your council's website for "energy efficiency grants" or "solar panel grants"
Call your council's housing or environment department
Check the Simple Energy Advice website (gov.uk) for schemes in your area
Ask local MCS-certified installers — they often know about schemes in their area

Local grants tend to have limited budgets and close once funding runs out, so check regularly if nothing is available right now. New rounds often open at the start of the financial year (April).

Can You Get Free Solar Panels in the UK?

"Free solar panels UK" is one of the most searched terms around solar energy, so let's give an honest answer.

Yes, Through ECO4 (If You Qualify)

The ECO4 scheme can genuinely provide free solar panels in the UK for eligible households. If you're on qualifying benefits and your home has a low EPC rating, you could have solar panels installed at zero cost. Over 38,000 households have received ECO4 solar panels so far.

The catch is the eligibility criteria. You must be on specific means-tested benefits and your property must be rated D or below. If you meet those conditions, this is real solar panel funding that covers everything.

No, Not Through "Rent-a-Roof" Schemes

Back when the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) was running (2010-2019), some companies offered free solar panels UK homeowners could have installed in exchange for the FiT payments. The company owned the panels, kept the income, and you got free electricity during daylight hours.

These "rent-a-roof" schemes no longer exist because the Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants in 2019. If anyone contacts you offering free solar panels in exchange for your roof space, be very cautious — it's likely a scam or a very unfavourable deal.

What About "Government Free Solar Panels"?

There is no government solar panel scheme that provides free panels to all homeowners regardless of income. If you see adverts claiming otherwise, they're either referring to ECO4 (which has strict eligibility) or they're misleading.

For homeowners who don't qualify for ECO4, the best route to affordable solar is combining the 0% VAT saving with competitive quotes from multiple installers. A typical 4 kW system costs £5,500-£8,000 before any local grants, and pays for itself within 8-12 years.

How to Apply for Solar Panel Grants

The application process depends on which scheme you're targeting. Here's a step-by-step guide for each solar panel grant UK homeowners can claim in 2026.

Step 1: Check Your EPC Rating

Your Energy Performance Certificate rating determines whether you qualify for ECO4 and may affect local grant eligibility. Look up your property at epcregister.com. If you don't have one, you'll need to arrange an assessment (costs around £60-£120).

Step 2: Check ECO4 Eligibility

If your property is rated D-G and you receive qualifying benefits, contact your energy supplier about ECO4. You can also ask your local council if they make referrals through the LA Flex route. Processing typically takes 4-8 weeks before installation is arranged.

Step 3: Search for Local Grants

Check your council's website or phone their energy team. Ask about any solar panel funding schemes, group buying programmes, or interest-free loan offers. Even if nothing is running now, ask when the next round might open.

Step 4: Get Quotes from MCS-Certified Installers

Whether or not you qualify for grants, getting multiple quotes is the best way to find a fair price. MCS certification is required for SEG payments and shows the installer meets industry standards. Aim for at least three quotes.

Find MCS-certified solar installers near you.

Step 5: Register for the Smart Export Guarantee

After installation, sign up for an SEG tariff to earn from your surplus electricity. Compare rates across suppliers — you don't have to use the same company that supplies your electricity. See our guide to the best SEG tariffs for current rates.

Solar Panel Grant Scams to Avoid

The popularity of solar panel grants UK-wide has attracted scammers. Here's what to watch out for.

Cold Calls About "Free Government Solar Panels"

If someone phones or knocks on your door claiming you've been selected for free solar panels through a government solar panel scheme, be sceptical. Legitimate schemes don't work this way. ECO4 referrals come through your energy supplier or council, not through cold callers.

Pressure to "Act Now or Lose Your Place"

Scammers create false urgency. While ECO4 does have a deadline (December 2026), no legitimate installer will pressure you to sign on the spot. You should always have time to check credentials, compare quotes, and think it over.

Upfront Fees for "Grant Applications"

No genuine solar panel grant requires an upfront fee to apply. If someone asks you to pay to "secure" your grant or "reserve" your spot, walk away. ECO4 is free to apply for and the 0% VAT is automatic.

Non-MCS Installers

Some companies offer cheap installations but aren't MCS-certified. Without MCS certification, you can't claim SEG payments, may not be covered by proper warranties, and may have trouble selling your home if the installation doesn't meet standards. Always verify an installer's MCS registration before agreeing to work.

How to Protect Yourself

Never agree to anything on the doorstep or over the phone
Verify MCS certification at mcscertified.com
Get at least three written quotes from different installers
Check reviews on independent platforms (Trustpilot, Checkatrade, Google)
Contact your energy supplier or council directly about ECO4
Report scams to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040)

The demand for solar panel grants UK-wide means scammers will keep trying. Stay cautious and always do your own research before signing anything.