Solar panels, and other renewable and energy efficient technologies, can transform your home’s energy usage, saving money on your bills and helping to reduce harmful greenhouse emissions.
An average household could save around £1,000 a year on their energy bills by investing in solar panels and most domestic systems pay for themselves within 7 years.
As solar energy has become more popular, installation costs have come down, but the initial investment can still be a barrier. To help more UK households access clean, green energy we have created a comprehensive list of the grants available to help fund solar panels, and other energy efficient measures for your home.
Solar Panel & Renewable Energy Grants for Homes
Households can now access generous grants for eco-friendly home improvements thanks to a number of Local Authority and National Government grants and support for renewable energy.
We have provided an overview of the schemes we are aware of to help you identify grants in your area.
| Name | Funding available | Eligibility criteria | Location | Technologies covered |
| Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 | Up to £10,000 | Households which are: low incomeoff the gas gridor have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G | The scheme is being administered by 45 different councils and consortiums. You can see if you live in one of the local authority areas here | energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating outlined by your local scheme |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) | Up to £7,500 depending on technology | You must be replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler. | England and Wales | Heat pumps (air source, ground source and water source) and biomass boilers |
| ECO4 | Dependent on local scheme | You are a Homeowner, Landlord or a Private Tenant You receive income-related benefits You have Electric Storage Heaters | UK wide | Insulation and heating measures Solar panels in some local authority areas |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Up to 15p per kWh | If you are generating excess energy from an eligible technology you can receive payments to export it to the grid | Great Britain | Solar photovoltaic (solar PV) Wind Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) Hydro Anaerobic digestion (AD) |
| Solar Together | Group-buying for solar PV and battery storage systems | All residents living in one of the participating council areas and who own their own house or have permission from the landlord to install a solar PV system | Currently 12 local authority areas | Solar PY and Battery Storage |
| Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme | £25 million programme of funding and guidance to help accelerate net zero in regions and local communities. Administered through local schemes | Dependent on local schemes | Practical Demonstrator Projects being run: LeicestershireLiverpoolYorkOrkney and ShetlandBristolRossendalePeterborough Other schemes funded around the UK | Vairous |
Green Home Finance Accelerator Programme
In January 2024 the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero launched the Green Home Finance Accelerator (GHFA) which is currently providing over £14 million of funding to 12 projects in its pilot phase.
The GHFA will support lenders and other providers to develop and pilot a range of innovative green finance products that enable home energy efficiency, low carbon heating, and micro-generation improvements.
All Pilot Phase projects will develop and pilot their innovative green finance products with homeowners across the UK until February 2025.
To find a project in your area please visit Green Home Finance Accelerator: details of Pilot Phase projects – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Local Authority renewable energy grant schemes
Many local authorities provide grants to homeowners to reduce their impact on the environment, provide help for energy bills and invest in technology that reduces emissions and contributes towards Net Zero.
We recommend looking on your local authority website too to understand if there are any additional schemes available in your area to those listed.
FAQs
How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
Costs have come down in recent years, if you enquired about solar panels more than 12 months ago it’s worth getting a new quote.
The cost of your recommended solar panel installation will depend on the amount of energy you use, the size and orientation of your roof and the amount of energy you would like to produce.
Prices start from around £5,000.
What’s the average cost for a heat pump in the UK?
Your chosen type, make and model of heat pump will determine the cost of installation.
Air Source Heat Pumps start from around £7,000. Ground Source Heat Pump installations are more extensive due to groundworks and heating loops and will range from £10,000 upward.
What are the potential savings from installing solar panels?
The savings that you can expect to see should be clearly outlined in your proposal and based on your system generation and energy usage.
A typical household can expect to see up to £1,000 a year of savings from investing in solar PV.
What types of renewable energy grants are available in 2024?
There are a large number of renewable energy funding grants currently available in the UK. These range from national schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which provides set grants to install heat pumps and low carbon heating systems to a range of smaller local schemes.
The Government has provided a significant amount of funding for local authorities to develop their own programmes and we recommend visiting your local authority website to see what’s available in your area.
Am I eligible for grant funding?
Your eligibility will depend on the type of technology you are looking to install, your location and a number of factors specific to the funding programme including whether you are a home owner and if your receive benefits.
We recommend contacting your local grant providers to get the most up to date information.
Do grants cover installation costs only, or are other expenses included?
This will depend on the grant that you are applying for, however it’s unlikely that a grant will cover more than the installation cost.
How do I stay updated on new renewable energy grants and funding?
The best way to stay up to date on the grants and funding for renewable and low carbon technologies for your home is to visit your local authority website.
Contact Us
If you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home with a renewable energy installation that reduces your bills and your carbon footprint, but can’t fund a project by yourself, we’re happy to support you in investigating the grants and funding available in your area. Please contact the team at Geo Green Power today.
