Solar Panel Grants & Funding from the UK Government 2024

In recent years, solar energy has gained significant traction in the UK, emerging as a primary alternative to traditional fossil fuels such as gas or oil. This is due, among other factors, to its unlimited and eco-friendly nature.

The UK government has played an important role in promoting solar energy by launching generous grants for solar panels to incentivise homeowners across the country in light of the current solar panel costs in the UK.

This article will provide an overview of the current grants for solar panels available in the UK, including those that have recently expired, their application process, requirements, and potential cost savings.

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In light of the current climate crisis, the UK government has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2050 as part of its Net Zero Strategy. This ambitious target has been accompanied by the launching of various government solar panel funding initiatives.

As of January 2024, two main UK government solar panel grants are ongoing:

The ECO4 solar panel grant was launched in April 2022, replacing its predecessor the ECO3, and is due to close in March 2026. For the launching of this solar panel grant, the UK government has put forward funding of 4 billion pounds to enhance the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of low-income households to reduce carbon emissions.

This government grant for solar panels is estimated to reduce the energy bills of thousands of eligible low-income households, reducing the average energy bill by around £290, even for those less efficient homes, saving as much as  £1,600 per year.

The ECO4 grant will also allow households to modernise their inefficient heating systems with eco-friendly alternatives such as solar PV panels. What is more, the introduction of LA Flex means that a greater number of individuals will now qualify for the ECO4 solar panel grant.

Eligibility:

Furthermore, here’s a step-by-step summary of what you’ll have to do to apply for the ECO4 solar panel grant. How to apply:

Interested in the ECO4 solar panel grant but find yourself overwhelmed by the list of requirements to be eligible and the steps to apply? Luckily, here at Household Quotes, we’re happy to help you connect with professionals in the field that can help you through the tedious bureaucratic process of applying for solar panel grants.

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The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) can provide up to £10,000 for the installation of a solar power system and other energy-saving improvements for low-income households in England with an EPC rating of between D and G.

Eligibility:

To apply for the HUG2 solar panel grant you must complete the following steps:

Before exploring the other available schemes and grants in the UK, it's crucial to emphasize the importance of selecting the appropriate solar panels to maximize savings through solar panel funding. Avoid applying grants to substandard panels or those that don't suit your home's needs.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government-backed scheme that was implemented on January 1, 2020, and is still ongoing. It is worth noting that the SEG is a government-supported scheme, not a direct government grant, unlike the ECO4 and HUG2.

Moreover, this scheme requires energy suppliers to pay their customers for any excess electricity they export back to the grid. There’s a standard SEG tariff rate that all energy suppliers must offer to their customers, with this tariff currently being set at 5.5p per kilowatt-hour for excess electricity exported back to the grid.

Through this scheme, households can export back to the grid energy and earn between 1 to 24p per kWh of excess electricity from their solar panel battery storage. Having said this, it’s important to note that this rate will depend on your energy supplier.

Taking advantage of this scheme can potentially result in annual earnings of £735 taking into account an avergae 4kW solar panel system. Consult a local solar engineer to calculate earnings for 5kW or 12kW solar panels or a 6kW solar system with battery in the UK.

To be eligible for the SEG, the following criteria must apply:

To apply for this solar panel scheme, applicants must follow these steps:

Before applying for SEG tariffs, it's important to choose an energy-efficient and tailored solar panel system that suits your home's needs. This will ensure that you save money from the start and avoid applying for solar panel grants for unsuitable panels.

As of April 2022 onwards, eligible homes in the UK will be able to benefit from this government-backed solar panel scheme on the materials and the installation of energy-efficient mechanisms.

This means that those interested in solar panels for their homes can enjoy VAT-free solar panels, including integrated solar panels, making the option of switching to more environmentally-friendly energy sources much more attractive. The VAT reduction also applies to solar energy storage options, so you can also save on installing one of the best solar batteries in the UK. Taking advantage of this solar panel scheme will allow households to save more than  £1,000 on installation and £300 annually on their energy bills. 

Nevertheless, it is important to note that this VAT-free period is temporary and cannot exceed more than five years. After this time, the VAT rate will go back to the standard 5%.

Having said this, it is important to take advantage of this scheme before the VAT-free period expires. To be eligible for the 0% VAT rate, your home and new installation must meet several requirements, among them: 

All in all, applying for the 0% VAT rate is simple. If the installation and energy-saving materials meet the eligibility requirements, such as a 3kw solar system with battery, the 0% VAT will be automatically applied by your installer, eliminating the need for any application process.

The combination of this zero VAT rate and the previously mentioned solar panel grants and schemes available in the UK are expected to make it increasingly affordable for homeowners to install solar panels and other energy-efficient measures. This will help to reduce their carbon footprint and save them money on their energy bills.

Solar Together is a group solar panel scheme for buying solar panels at a lower price on the condition that a minimum number of buyers make a purchase. Therefore, this solar panel scheme aims to connect households with local authorities to form a collective buying group for solar panels.

Those interested must register for the program, after which solar panel installers submit their offers to install solar panels for the group. This process enables consumers to secure a competitive installation price, typically lower than what an individual could negotiate. The potential savings from this collective purchasing approach can range from 10% to 25% based on previous results.

To be eligible, some conditions must be met:

Applying for the Solar Together scheme is a straightforward process that can be completed online or over the phone;

In addition, there are other various government grants available in the UK for solar panels, including regional programs. For instance, the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest Scheme and the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Schemes offer financial assistance for households looking to install solar panels.

The Welsh government has launched solar panel grants in Wales to encourage the use of solar panels. Through the Nest Wales scheme, eligible households with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F, or G can receive up to £10,000 in funding. Additionally, households in Scotland can also benefit from the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Schemes, which provides up to £6,000 in solar grants in Scotland.

On a final note and to make your life easier, we have compiled a table with the most important information regarding the main solar panel grants and schemes currently ongoing in the UK:

Solar panel grants and schemes in the UK are subject to change in the coming years, therefore it’s highly advisable to get in touch with a professional solar panel installer who can properly assess your circumstances and give you tailored advice.

Here at Household Quotes, we can help with this. Simply by clicking the button below and completing our short 30-second form, we can offer you up to 4 completely free and non-binding quotes from our trusted network of solar panel suppliers.

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) ceased accepting new applications on 31 March 2022. This program allowed homes to potentially save up to £2,981 on the installation of solar water heating. The RHI has been replaced by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which does not cover solar panels.

Solar thermal panels, unlike solar PV, use sunlight to heat water for use in central heating systems and domestic hot water. The Domestic RHI offered payments over a 7-year period, which could help cover a significant portion of the installation costs, considering that solar thermal panels typically cost around £4,000 on average.

To be eligible for the Domestic RHI, a property had to first obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which would assess its energy efficiency and identify potential improvements, which was a requirement for the RHI application.

The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) was introduced in 2010 and operated successfully for several years. In 2019, the FIT scheme stopped accepting new applications, but those already registered continued to receive its benefits.

Under the FIT scheme, individuals who produced electricity through solar panels or wind turbines received a specific payment for each kilowatt per hour they produced, as well as for any extra electricity they sold back to the grid.

To participate in the FIT scheme, individuals were required to select a certified installer. After doing this, they could then choose to receive payments from their energy supplier or a list of registered suppliers.

Previously, any individual who could not afford to purchase solar panels for their home had the option of acquiring them for free through a solar panel scheme where companies would rent their roof space for up to 25 years. In this arrangement, the company would provide the free solar panels, handle the installation and maintenance at no cost, and receive the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) payments.

Another option has emerged called 'solar buyback,' where companies offer homeowners a lump sum upfront in exchange for the FIT payments the homeowner would have received.

Overall, it is safe to say that the ongoing solar panel grants available in the UK have made the decision to switch to solar energy the easiest it has ever been for many homeowners in recent years across the country. However, it is still important to select the right solar panels for your home along with a professional installer.

Are you interested in the advantages of solar panel grants but don’t know where to start? Instead of spending hours, days or even weeks of your time calling different installers for more information on solar panels, you can take advantage of our completely free and non-binding service.

By doing this, we can offer you up to 4 quotes from our trusted network of solar panel installers, and you can rest assured you’re getting professional and tailored advice near you.

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