UK solar panel grants & schemes 2026

Every UK solar panel grant — we handle the paperwork

Eight distinct UK funding routes for solar PV in 2026 — from PSDS Phase 4 for the public estate to Great British Energy Solar for Schools, ECO4 Flex for qualifying households, 0% VAT for all residential installs, and Enhanced Capital Allowances for Freeport businesses. AMP applies on your behalf and deducts grants directly from your quote.

Check my eligibility Call 0191 535 2711

At a glance

UK solar grants & schemes in 2026

8 routes

Total funding routes

public + commercial + residential

£9k

BUS heat pump grant

oil/LPG households (summer 2026)

0% VAT

on residential solar

until 31 March 2027

100%

PSDS capital cover

public-sector estates

15p / kWh

Best SEG export rate

Octopus Outgoing Fixed

£14k

Workplace EV grant

WCS · 40 sockets × £350

Funding routes

Which solar grant applies to you?

Eight UK routes funding solar PV in 2026. Click through for the detailed eligibility, process and application support for each.

Up to 100% capital

Great British Energy Solar for Schools

For: State-funded schools (priority: IMD 1-3)

DESNZ programme · 2025 launch · MAT & LA routes

Up to 100% capital

PSDS (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme)

For: Schools, NHS, councils, universities, public bodies

Salix-administered · Phase 4 2025-2028

£5,000-£14,000

ECO4 Flex (Energy Company Obligation)

For: Low-income households · EPC D/E/F/G + qualifying benefits

Energy supplier-funded · LA Flex referral common in NE

Free or subsidised

Council solar schemes

For: Council tenants & local-authority pilots

NE pilots: Newcastle Solar Together, Durham CC retrofit

4-15p / kWh export

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

For: Any household / business with solar PV

Octopus Outgoing best mainstream rate; Tesla Energy Plan top

Zero VAT until 31 March 2027

0% VAT on solar & battery

For: All residential installs

Treasury extension confirmed for 2026

25-30% effective discount

AIA + Enhanced Capital Allowances

For: Commercial & industrial businesses

Freeport sites (Teesside) get enhanced rate

Up to £30m capital

IETF (Industrial Energy Transformation Fund)

For: Industrial businesses · energy spend >£150k/yr

DESNZ · process electrification + solar enabling

ECO4 Flex (LA Flex)

ECO4 Flex — local-authority routed solar for households

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is the main UK route funding solar and heat pump installs for low-income households. ECO4 Flex is the local-authority extension that lets councils nominate households not covered by the main benefits-based route. Particularly active across North East councils.

Typical eligibility: household income under £31k, EPC band D or worse, and a qualifying vulnerability (older residents, families with young children, long-term illness). LA Flex is delivered through council-approved installers (AMP is on the relevant NE frameworks). Average install value: £5,000-£14,000 per household.

In the North East, ECO4 Flex is active in: Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham County (county-wide), Northumberland (rural cluster), Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees. Application is made through the council, not us directly — but we deliver many of the installs.

Council solar schemes

Council-led solar schemes across the North East

Several North East councils run their own solar schemes — typically through bulk-buying frameworks that secure better pricing for residents, or direct retrofits of council-owned housing stock. Most fluctuate by phase (Phase 1 launches, Phase 2 expands, etc.) so timing matters.

Solar Together (national, council-routed)

Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside and several other NE councils have run Solar Together bulk-buying group-purchase schemes in past years. Phases launch periodically — typically open for 6-8 weeks. Saves 10-20% vs typical retail pricing. Check your council's website for current Phase status.

Durham CC social-housing retrofit

Durham County Council's Climate Emergency Plan includes a rolling retrofit of council and ALMO housing stock. Solar PV is one of the measures funded. Tenants don't apply — the council schedules retrofits by area.

Sunderland Smart City programme

Sunderland City Council's 2040 net-zero plan funds district-scale renewables and EV charging across the borough. Less direct for households but creates the policy environment for ECO4 Flex referrals.

Smart Export Guarantee

SEG export rates compared (2026)

SEG requires licensed UK electricity suppliers to pay for surplus solar electricity. Rates vary widely by supplier — we register your enrollment with the highest-paying provider for your setup as part of every install.

Supplier	Rate	Notes
Octopus Outgoing Fixed	15p/kWh	Best mainstream rate · smart meter required
Tesla Energy Plan	up to 24p/kWh	Highest in UK · requires Tesla Powerwall
British Gas Export & Earn	~6-15p/kWh	Bundle for BG import customers
EDF Export+	~7-10p/kWh	Available with import contract too
Eon Next Export	~3-7p/kWh	Lower but no import-supplier switch needed
OVO Energy SEG	~4-6p/kWh	Standard rate, broad availability

0% VAT

0% VAT on solar, battery & heat pumps — until 31 March 2027

Confirmed by the Treasury for the residential energy-saving materials category. Applies to solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps, insulation and certain associated installation work. Saves 20% off the gross install cost — applied automatically to every AMP residential quote.

What qualifies: the panels / battery / unit itself + supplied labour + ancillary materials (cables, mounts, isolators). Doesn't apply to subsequent maintenance or replacement work after warranty period — only to the original install.

After 31 March 2027: standard 5% reduced rate returns (the rate that applied before the temporary 0% extension). Treasury has not yet signalled whether the 0% rate will be extended further beyond 2027.

UK solar grant FAQs

Is there a government solar panel scheme in the UK in 2026?

Yes — eight distinct routes. The largest are PSDS Phase 4 (public-sector estates, up to 100% capital, Salix-administered, 2025-2028), Great British Energy Solar for Schools (DESNZ, 2025 launch, prioritising disadvantaged schools), and ECO4 Flex (low-income households, energy-supplier funded, often delivered via local-authority referral). For most homeowners on average incomes the main "benefits" are the 0% VAT extension (until 31 March 2027) and the Smart Export Guarantee for selling surplus back to the grid.

Can I get solar panels on my council house?

You can't install solar yourself on a council-owned property (the council owns the roof). However, your council may be running its own retrofit programme — in the North East, Newcastle Solar Together (in some phases) and Durham CC retrofit programmes have funded social-housing solar at scale. Contact your council's housing or sustainability team directly. ECO4 Flex routes can also fund qualifying tenants where the council/housing association agrees.

Are there any grants for solar panels for homeowners?

For most owner-occupiers on average incomes there is no direct grant for solar PV. The main support is (1) 0% VAT until March 2027, (2) Smart Export Guarantee for selling surplus, (3) ECO4 Flex for households on qualifying benefits (often combined with EPC D or worse). State-funded schools, councils and the NHS have separate routes (PSDS, GBE Solar for Schools) — see above.

How does ECO4 Flex work for solar?

ECO4 Flex is the local-authority extension of the Energy Company Obligation. Your council nominates households not covered by the main benefits-based ECO4 route (e.g. low-income but not on a means-tested benefit). Energy suppliers then deliver the install. Solar PV is a qualifying ECO4 measure where it forms part of a wider energy-efficiency package. Average ECO4 install value: £5,000-£14,000 per household. AMP delivers ECO4 work in partnership with the relevant LA Flex schemes.

What's the Smart Export Guarantee?

SEG requires licensed UK electricity suppliers to pay you for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid. Rates vary by supplier — Octopus Outgoing Fixed at 15p/kWh is the best mainstream rate; Tesla Energy Plan (requires Tesla Powerwall) can hit 24p/kWh; British Gas, EDF, OVO and Eon all offer rates between 4-15p/kWh. AMP registers your SEG enrollment as part of every solar install — no separate paperwork on your side.

Does 0% VAT apply to all solar installs?

Yes for residential. The 0% VAT rate on energy-saving materials (solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps, insulation) applies to all UK residential installs until 31 March 2027 — confirmed extension. Commercial installs still pay standard 20% VAT but can usually reclaim through input VAT. We apply the 0% rate to all our residential quotes automatically.

How long does a grant application take?

Depends on the route. PSDS: 6-18 months end-to-end (EOI → full app → award → install). LCSF feasibility: 3-6 months. GBE Solar for Schools: still developing — typical 6-12 months. ECO4 Flex: 4-8 weeks. SEG enrollment: 4-6 weeks after install. We handle the entire process for each — you never speak to Salix, DESNZ or your energy supplier directly.

Our accreditations

Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards

MCS Certified

NAPM47760

Heat pumps & solar

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Gas Safe Register

947841

Gas appliances

Heat Geek Trained

Heat pump design specialists

TrustMark

Government endorsed

Quality scheme

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

PAS 2030

:2019

Retrofit standard

NAPIT

Member

Electrical inspection

F-Gas Certified

Air conditioning refrigerant

MCS Certified

NAPM47760

Heat pumps & solar

NICEIC Approved

D124458

Electrical contractor

Gas Safe Register

947841

Gas appliances

Heat Geek Trained

Heat pump design specialists

TrustMark

Government endorsed

Quality scheme

SafeContractor

Approved

H&S accredited

ISO 9001

2015

Quality management

ISO 14001

2015

Environmental management

ISO 45001

2018

OH&S management

PAS 2030

:2019

Retrofit standard

NAPIT

Member

Electrical inspection

F-Gas Certified

Air conditioning refrigerant

Every accreditation listed is independently verified. We carry the registration numbers — ask for any on request.

Apply for the right solar grant — talk to us first

Free 15-minute eligibility check. We map your funding stack across residential / commercial / public-sector routes and tell you exactly what you qualify for.

Free, no-obligation survey Fixed-price written quote MCS certified installation

Free eligibility check Call 0191 535 2711

Free solar design

Home charger from £899

£7,500 BUS grant

Air con from F-Gas pros

Talk to us

Every UK solar panel grant — we handle the paperwork

UK solar grants & schemes in 2026

Which solar grant applies to you?

Great British Energy Solar for Schools

PSDS (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme)

ECO4 Flex (Energy Company Obligation)

Council solar schemes

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

0% VAT on solar &amp; battery

AIA + Enhanced Capital Allowances

IETF (Industrial Energy Transformation Fund)

ECO4 Flex — local-authority routed solar for households

Council-led solar schemes across the North East

Solar Together (national, council-routed)

Durham CC social-housing retrofit

Sunderland Smart City programme

SEG export rates compared (2026)

0% VAT on solar, battery & heat pumps — until 31 March 2027

UK solar grant FAQs

Is there a government solar panel scheme in the UK in 2026?

Can I get solar panels on my council house?

Are there any grants for solar panels for homeowners?

How does ECO4 Flex work for solar?

What's the Smart Export Guarantee?

Does 0% VAT apply to all solar installs?

How long does a grant application take?

Accredited, certified, and backed by independent standards

Apply for the right solar grant — talk to us first

0% VAT on solar & battery