Going solar is an extremely effective way to cut your electricity bills, but not everyone can afford the steep upfront cost – especially low-income households which are struggling the most.

There are some grants available, such as ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant, but they come with stringent eligibility criteria, as they're targeted at the most deprived homes in the country.

In this guide, we'll run through all the various initiatives, identify which households could qualify, and consider whether a solar subscription with no upfront cost could be the answer for you.

To find out how much you could save by going solar, enter a few details below and we'll provide an estimate.

What are the grants and schemes for solar panels?

There are currently eight schemes run by the government that help some households cut the cost of switching to solar.

One of these doesn’t exist yet, four of them accept applications from households, two are implemented by local authorities with little input from residents, and one is a VAT discount that's automatically applied.

There are also three non-government schemes that can help reduce the upfront cost of solar, to varying degrees.

Here all the most important details about these initiatives.

How do I qualify for free solar panels in the UK?

There are four grants that provide free solar panels to UK households. Two are only available to homes in England, one is just in Wales, and ECO4 operates in England, Wales, and Scotland – but ends in December 2026.

You may qualify for free solar panels if you're eligible for one of these four grants, though most wouldn't.

Just 13% of the 27 million UK households that don’t yet have solar panels could qualify for a grant, according to our analysis of government data.

Thankfully, a lack of government funding hasn’t stopped the popularity of solar panels from skyrocketing all over the country.

Between April 2025 and February 2026, 164,800 households switched to solar – and only 12.9% were funded by a grant.

1. The Warm Homes Plan

This £15 billion government scheme, announced in January 2026, aims to upgrade five million homes by 2030 – though it remains unclear when this funding will be actually available, and who exactly will be eligible.

Home improvements including solar panels, batteries, insulation, and heat pumps are set to be heavily discounted, installed for free, or offered with low-interest loans, depending on your situation.

The scheme will provide homes in England with:

• £5 billion to fund free upgrades for low-income households and homes in fuel poverty
• £2 billion towards interest-free or low-interest loans for people who can afford them, to pay for upgrades like solar panels
• £2.7 billion for innovative finance schemes like green mortgages
• £2.7 billion for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which includes £7,500 discounts on air source heat pumps, and will now provide £2,500 discounts on air-to-air heat pumps
• £1.1 billion for heat networks

The remaining £1.5 billion in funding will go towards other Warm Homes Plan programmes and Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

So if you live in a low-income household, you may well be able to get a solar & battery system for free.

Otherwise, you should be able to access a loan with minimal or zero interest that can help you fund a new solar & battery system.

The government has said the Warm Homes Plan “could put solar panels on the roofs of up to three million more homes by 2030”, which would result in a total of 4.6 million solar homes by the new decade.

At our current installation rate, the UK will reach this mark by December 2042 – so 2030 is an ambitious target.

Are you eligible for the Warm Homes Plan?

The government hasn’t yet explained the Warm Homes Plan’s eligibility criteria.

In its document outlining the scheme, it said: “We will set out further details of the scheme’s eligibility later this year.”

So far, the government has only said that “low-income and fuel poor households” in England will be able to access £5 billion in funding for free home upgrades.

This will include homes that earn "around £35,000 or less", according to The i Paper.

If it works like other UK government grants for low-income households, homes on certain means-tested benefits, in particular postcodes, or with a low Energy Performance Certificate rating may also qualify.

The government has said its £2 billion fund for low-interest or interest-free loans is a “universal offer”, which almost certainly means it’ll be available to all households.

This support is limited to reducing (or removing) the loan’s interest, though. The government won’t lower the cost of the system for these households, and you’ll have to pay the loan back in full.

Is it worth waiting for the Warm Homes Plan?

There is no clear start date for the Warm Homes Plan, which the Labour Party first mentioned in its 2024 election manifesto.

After this two-year gap, there’s no indication of how long we’ll have to wait before we receive more details about the scheme.

Even waiting a few months could potentially mean missing out on having a solar & battery system during summer, when solar output peaks and drives better energy bill savings than at any other time of year.

This scheme has emphasised the government’s position that going solar is a crucial part of reducing energy bills across the country. If you can afford to go solar now, you could enjoy these savings straight away.

To find out how much you could save by going solar, enter a few details below and we'll provide an estimate.

2. ECO4

The fourth phase of the government's Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO4), which aims to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions across Great Britain, began in July 2022.

The £4 billion scheme was originally set to end in March 2026, but the government has pushed this end date back to December 2026.

The initiative compels energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers – like British Gas, Octopus, and OVO – to carry out domestic energy efficiency measures such as solar panels, heat pumps, and insulation in disadvantaged households.

These improvements must increase each home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. For example, households in Bands F and G must reach a D for the project to count towards a supplier's total number of homes helped.

Suppliers implemented more than 767,000 measures under the scheme within its first three years, including more than 47,000 solar panel system installations.

The initiative doesn't include solar batteries though, so you'd have to fund that purchase yourself.

To learn more, check out our full guide to the ECO4 scheme.

Are you eligible for ECO4?

You can qualify for ECO4 if you’re a homeowner, private renter (with your landlord's permission), or social housing tenant.

If you live in social housing and your property has an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G, you can also qualify for ECO4 measures.

And if you're not claiming the above benefits but earn under £31,000 per year, have health conditions worsened by a cold home, or are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home, you may also be able to qualify through your council's ECO4 Flex programme.

In the end though, suppliers will decide which measures – if any – to offer your household, so make sure you get multiple companies to assess your needs and propose improvements.

To get solar panels, you must use an electric heating system.

LA Flex: explained

The Local Authority and Supplier Flex (LA Flex) scheme is an extension of ECO4 that enables councils to help deprived homes which don't match ECO4's eligibility criteria.

Requirements differ from council to council, but if you've been in fuel debt for more than 13 weeks, started repaying your fuel debt through third party deductions, or disconnected yourself from a pre-payment meter, you may well be able to get help.

Households with a supplier that's either provided them with credit in the past 13 weeks or entered into an energy debt repayment plan with them may also be eligible.

To see if you could qualify for LA Flex, just contact your local authority. The government has directed half of ECO4's funding to LA Flex, so it's definitely worth checking.

What solar funding does ECO4 provide?

ECO4 provides fully funded solar & battery systems to qualifying households.

Together with other energy efficient measures, the scheme's improvements can make a big difference to your energy bills.

How to apply for ECO4

To apply for the ECO4 scheme, you’ll first need to find out whether you’re eligible, which you can do by completing this Ofgem questionnaire.

If you think you may be eligible, get in touch with one (or a few) of the energy suppliers in the ECO4 scheme. You don't have to go with your current energy supplier; you can choose any of the companies involved.

The supplier will then assess your application. When it comes to solar panels, they'll focus on whether you primarily use electric heating, receive a qualifying benefit, and earn less than a certain amount per year.

If you pass, a professional will assess your home and recommend measures that could improve its energy efficiency.

Your chosen supplier will fully fund the improvements, so you don't need to think about the financial aspect unless you're getting an additional measure.

How many people get solar through ECO4?

47,513 homes received solar panels through ECO4 within the first three years of the scheme.

This is a substantial number, but it's still just 10.2% of all UK households that went solar in this time.

It's also a mere 6.2% of the improvements made to homes under the scheme, showing that energy suppliers are somewhat reluctant to pay for solar panel installations.

In contrast, heating controls – which are much easier and cheaper to install – make up 52% of ECO4 measures.

Most popular ECO4 measures, July 2022-July 2025

3. The Warm Homes Nest scheme

From April 2024 until at least April 2031, this Welsh government initiative will focus on improving household insulation levels and installing modern innovations like heat pumps, rather than old solutions like gas boilers.

It's also focusing more on solar installations, which made up 18.3% of measures in 2022/23 – though the great majority of these systems didn't come with a battery.

Between its launch in 2011 and 2024, the scheme spent £440 million to help more than 77,000 homes.

Are you eligible for the Nest scheme?

You may be eligible for the Warm Homes Nest scheme, as long as you:

• Own or privately rent your home
• Have an EPC rating of 54 (E) or lower; or 68 (D) or lower if a member of your household has a chronic circulatory, respiratory, or mental health condition
• Live in a low-income household or receive a qualifying means-tested benefit (see the list below)

What solar funding does the Nest scheme provide?

The Warm Homes Nest scheme can completely fund your solar installation if you're eligible.

You can also get measures including heat pumps and insulation through the scheme.

How to apply for the Nest scheme

To apply for this scheme, just call 0808 808 2244.

A staff member will ask you some questions to work out if you qualify, guide you through uploading evidence to prove your eligibility, and talk you through the measures you can access.

You can even apply on behalf of someone else, as long as they give their verbal consent while you're on the phone.

The whole process typically takes 30-40 minutes.

You'll then be able to arrange for British Gas to install any measures you've agreed upon.

How many people get solar through the Nest scheme?

From April 2023 to March 2024, the Warm Homes Nest scheme funded improvements to 4,816 households, 19.2% of which were solar & battery systems.

Another 3.4% were just solar panels, meaning that solar installations made up 22.6% of all measures – benefiting more than 1,000 households.

Most popular Nest measures, 2023-24

4. Green Homes Wales

Green Homes Wales (GHW) is a government scheme that offers interest-free loans for households to get energy efficiency measures.

Experts will assess participating homes, make bespoke recommendations, and work out if you could qualify for grant funding alongside your loan – all for free.

Homeowners can then get installations including solar & battery systems, heat pumps, and insulation, fitted solely by installers who comply with the latest Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2035 retrofitting requirements.

The GHW, which is run by the Welsh Government-owned Development Bank of Wales, launched in April 2025 with a £4.2 million budget for the financial year.

The government then raised its funding to £5 million for the 2026/27 period.

This still isn't much, though. The average solar & battery system costs £11,307 , meaning GHW could fund loans for only around 442 installations.

Are you eligible for Green Homes Wales?

There aren't many eligibility criteria for GHW.

You just need to own a home in Wales, and as long as it's your primary residence – and isn't a listed building or previously unoccupied new-build – you can qualify.

There are some credit checks and affordability assessments to pass, as with any loan, but the scheme is built to help a broader swathe of the public than most other initiatives.

Ultimately though, the scheme's funding can only go so far, meaning it'll benefit a limited number of households.

What solar funding does Green Homes Wales provide?

GHW provides interest-free loans of up to £25,000, which homeowners can use to fund energy-efficiency installations.

The loans last up to 10 years, though this repayment term can be extended for bigger projects.

Qualifying households also won't have to pay anything for the first six months. The Development Bank of Wales has said this is a "repayment holiday while your new energy efficiency measures begin delivering results."

How to apply for Green Homes Wales

You can apply for GHW online, using this form.

After supplying your name and contact details – plus your home’s age, type, and listed or conservation status – you'll be asked for your EPC rating.

You should be able to find the rating here, but even if it's not listed there, you can still apply.

How many people get solar through Green Homes Wales?

There haven't yet been any reports on the number of people to go solar through GHW, but it's clearly exceeded expectations.

When it launched as a pilot scheme in 2024, a total of 3,600 households registered an interest, and 394 filled in applications when the time came.

This trend has continued, with the programme becoming oversubscribed well before the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

From February to April 2026, GHW's website told visitors that “new applications to Green Homes Wales are currently closed following high levels of demand.”

5. Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan

Homeowners in Scotland can access grant and loan funding for a wide variety of home improvements – but the only solar technologies on offer are hybrid panels and solar thermal.

Hybrid panels combine solar cells that produce electricity with thermal hardware which generates hot water.

The only solar funding available is an interest-free loan of up to £5,000, which is low compared to the £8,000 loans you can get for some measures – not to mention the £7,500 grants for other improvements.

The initiative was launched in 2017, though up until 2022 it was called the Loan and Cashback scheme.

As well as hybrid panels and solar thermal, you can get measures like heat pumps, biomass boilers, insulation, and double glazing through the scheme.

The government stopped providing grants and loans for solar panels and batteries in June 2024, and doesn't look likely to reverse that decision.

Are you eligible?

If you own a property in Scotland, and it's your primary private residence, you're eligible.

You don't have to fulfil any other criteria, such as being a benefits recipient, low-income household, or vulnerable person.

What solar funding does it provide?

The initiative provides a £5,000 loan for either a solar thermal system or hybrid solar panels.

The Scottish government is more focused on encouraging homeowners to get heat pumps, biomass boilers, and insulation – all of which you can fund with loans and grants.

You can't get any funding for standard solar panels through the scheme.

How to apply

Start by calling Home Energy Scotland for free on 0808 808 2282. If you apply online, it can take up to 10 working days to get a response.

You'll have to answer some questions about your property, its residents, and your personal circumstances so the advisor can determine if you're eligible.

You should find out whether you've qualified within two working days, via email. You'll get a funding application, which you'll need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and itemised quote from a solar installer to fill in.

Home Energy Scotland should process this form within 10 working days, and if you secure a loan or grant, you'll have 14 days to sign and send back your funding offer.

Then within the next nine months, you'll need to get your installation carried out and send in your final funding claim.

How many people get solar through Home Energy Scotland?

From 2017 to 2024, Home Energy Scotland (HES) awarded 15,160 loans and grants through the Loan and Cashback initiative and its current form, the Grant and Loan scheme.

The latest government statistics show between April 2023 and March 2024, 3,297 loans and grants were paid out to homeowners to get traditional solar panels before they were pulled from the scheme.

A further 75 households received funding for solar thermal systems in this time frame, while two homes got hybrid panels.

6. The Warm Homes: Local Grant

The Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) started in April 2025, and is set to run until 2028.

It replaced both the Home Upgrade Grant, which lasted from January 2022 to March 2025, and the Local Authority Delivery scheme, which ended in September 2023.

This £500 million scheme – not to be confused with the similarly named Warm Homes Plan – provides funding to English local authorities to improve the energy efficiency and heating systems of eligible homes in their area.

It's mainly targeted at energy-inefficient households that are deprived, low-income, or receive a means-tested benefit.

If you live in one of the 278 local authorities that have secured funding, you may be able to access up to £30,000 in grant money, including £15,000 for energy performance upgrades.

This can involve a wide variety of measures, from solar panels and battery storage to insulation, draught-proofing, doors, and double glazing.

The other £15,000 can be used for low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps, electric storage heaters, and biomass boilers.

Are you eligible for WH:LG?

To be eligible for the WH:LG, you must:

• own or privately rent the property in England you want to improve
• have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G
• be in one of these local authorities
• live in a home that's been previously occupied (not a new-build or self-build)

You must also qualify through one of the following three pathways:

1. You live in one of these 259,162 eligible postcodes in deprived areas
2. You have an annual household income below £36,000 or the 'after housing costs' threshold. This threshold is your net income after tax and rent or mortgage payments, and is higher if you have dependents. For example, two adults with one dependent have a £24,000 limit, with £4,000 more for each additional dependent, up to £40,000
3. You or someone who you live with receives one of the benefits in this list:

What solar funding does the WH:LG provide?

The WH:LG provides £15,000 for energy performance upgrades – a category that includes solar panels and batteries.

However, to secure solar funding, your local authority will have to decide that going solar is the most necessary improvement for your home, ahead of insulation, doors, draught-proofing, and double glazing.

How to apply for the WH:LG

Unfortunately, you aren’t able to apply directly for the WH:LG.

The government's guidance document specifically states that "self-declarations are not an acceptable method of verification under the Warm Homes: Local Grant."

If your local authority has secured WH:LG funding and decides that your household may meet the grant's eligibility criteria, a representative will contact you.

They will then try to work out if your household genuinely needs help. Part of this assessment will involve ascertaining whether you're in (or about to be in) fuel poverty.

If your local authority decides you don't have a low enough income or aren't at risk of fuel poverty – for example, because of your savings or your home's property value – it can decide not to include you in the WH:LG.

How many people get solar through the WH:LG?

Between April 2025 and February 2026, 398 households got solar panels through the WH:LG.

That was 40% of all measures the scheme funded in that time frame, which made it the most popular improvement.

9,214 homes went solar through the WH:LG's predecessor, the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG)..

It was comfortably the most common HUG installation too, at 33% of all measures.

Most popular WH:LG measures, April 2025-February 2026

7. The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) provides funding to local authorities and landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of social homes in England.

It's the government's new name for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, a scheme which has handed out more than £1 billion since it launched in October 2020.

Just make sure you don't confuse it with the Warm Homes Plan or Warm Homes: Local Grant.

Recipients must spend their grants on improving the country's 1.2 million social homes that have an EPC rating below C, to ensure they reach that grade.

The third wave of funding and measures will end in September 2028, but it may well be followed by another.

The government has indicated that landlords in this wave should focus on improvements that will lower their homes' energy bills, such as solar & battery systems, insulation, and heat pumps.

Are you eligible for the WH:SHF?

All local authorities, social housing providers, and charities that own social housing were eligible to apply for wave three of WH:SHF, as long as they didn't benefit from wave two.

They could choose to apply by themselves, or as part of a consortium.

Individual households cannot receive funding through WH:SHF, but if you live in a social home, you can certainly encourage your landlord to apply.

What solar funding can the WH:SHF provide?

The WH:SHF gives successful applicants up to £7,500 for each social home they run.

This means you could theoretically benefit from £7,500 worth of solar gear being installed at your home, or an even more expensive system being installed on your apartment block's roof.

How to apply for the WH:SHF

Unfortunately, households can't apply for the WH:SHF.

In fact, no-one can at the moment, as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's application window for the current wave closed in November 2024.

To qualify for wave three, landlords and local authorities had to include at least 100 social homes with an EPC rating below C on their application, unless they managed fewer than 1,000 properties.

In this case, they could reach 100 homes by bringing other landlords into a consortium – but if this wasn't possible, they could still submit an application.

Applicants had to also show they intended to hire installers that had been approved by Trustmark, the only government-endorsed quality scheme in the UK for works in and around your home.

How many people get solar through the WH:SHF?

Solar panels made up 10% of measures implemented during wave one, and this figure rose to 17% during wave 2.1.

Overall, 12,215 solar arrays were installed through the WH:SHF during its first three years in operation.

3,140 solar panel systems were installed during wave one of the WH:SHF, which ran from March 2022 to March 2023.

A further 8,224 arrays were put on social homes during wave 2.1, which operated between April 2023 and March 2024.

Wave 2.2, which lasted from April 2024 to March 2025, saw another 851 solar panel systems installed, which represented 22% of all measures.

Wave three, which is set to run from April 2025 to March 2028, has so far funded 399 solar panel system installations – 45% of all measures.

Most popular WH:SHF measures, March 2022-February 2026

8. Solar VAT discount

The solar VAT discount was part of the government's move in 2022 to change the VAT rate for a host of energy-saving materials to 0% in England, Scotland, and Wales.

The full list of qualifying products includes insulation, wind turbines, heating controls, heat pumps, and solar panels.

By reducing the upfront costs of installing energy-efficient devices, the policy aims to encourage households to switch to green energy.

It's not a grant, so you can't apply for it. Instead, it automatically cuts your solar costs.

And in February 2024, this 0% rate was expanded to include standalone storage batteries.

The treasury has estimated that reducing the VAT rate on all these products to 0% will cost the government £280 million.

Are you eligible for the solar VAT discount?

Everyone is eligible for the solar VAT discount – all you need to do is buy a qualifying product.

It applies automatically if you buy any of the following:

• Solar panel system
• Solar battery
• Air, ground, or water source heat pump
• Micro-CHP system
• Heating controls
• Insulation
• Smart diverters
• Wind turbine
• Water turbine
• Wood boiler

How much money can the solar VAT discount save you?

This discount can lead to big savings. Energy-efficient materials used to be taxed at 20%, but if you were on benefits or the materials cost less than 60% of the installation, the rate was reduced to 5%.

With the introduction of the 0% VAT rate, the average three-bedroom household can save around £565 when buying a new 4.5kWp solar & battery system, or £2,260 for those who would've previously paid 20% VAT.

The discount of course varies depending on the price of your system.

How to access the solar VAT discount

There is no specific application process for the solar VAT discount, as it’s automatically applied at the time of purchase​.

How many people have benefited from the VAT discount?

623,106 households in England, Scotland, and Wales benefited from the VAT discount between April 2022 and February 2026.

At the current rate, we expect around 200,000 more homes to benefit from the discount by March 2027, when it's set to end.

Even if we conservatively assume that all of these installations would've previously come with a 5% VAT rate, this still represents a rough overall saving of £463 million.

If you want to take advantage of the 0% VAT rate on solar before it expires, enter a few details below and we'll provide a quote and savings estimate.

9. Solar subscriptions

A solar subscription allows you to switch to solar with no upfront cost.

That's a big deal, considering the average 4.5kWp solar & battery system costs £11,307 , and about half of UK households have less than £5,000 in savings, according to the Financial Conduct Authority.

Sunsave Plus is the UK’s first solar subscription, and comes with a fixed monthly fee for 20 years. Payments being spread out in this way is beneficial in a few important ways.

Firstly, in many cases with Plus, it’s possible for your monthly energy bill savings to exceed your monthly payments to Sunsave, meaning you actually have more money in your pocket each year.

Your monthly payments being fixed also gives you some protection from energy bill inflation, which is huge when you look at how prices have risen in recent years.

Also, every Sunsave Plus system is protected for the full term by the Sunsave Guarantee, which includes 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, a free battery upgrade and replacement inverter if needed, downtime cover, and insurance.

The Sunsave Guarantee has been built to last, so you can rest assured that you'll receive monitoring & maintenance support for the full subscription term.

And Sunsave itself is backed by funding from sources including one of Europe's largest banks, Crédit Agricole, as well as Norrsken VC, ICAP founder Lord Michael Spencer, and former Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose.

Sunsave Plus also doesn't require a roof lease, which means you’ll legally own your solar & battery system – and all the savings and income it brings you – as soon as it’s installed.

To find out more, read our guide to whether solar subscriptions are worth it.

Are you eligible for a solar subscription?

To be eligible for a solar subscription, you generally need to meet certain criteria. For instance, you usually have to own your home, fall in a certain age range, and be a UK resident.

In the case of Sunsave Plus, your application can have up to two applicants, and must fulfil these criteria:

• The lead applicant must be an owner of the property
• At least one applicant must be between 18 and 65 years old
• Both applicants must be UK residents

You won’t be eligible for Sunsave Plus if you’ve been declared bankrupt or received a county court judgement.

What funding can a solar subscription provide?

A solar subscription isn't a grant and doesn’t provide free or discounted systems.

However, they do completely remove the upfront cost barrier.

This is crucial, considering a recent government survey found that 63% of people think solar panels are "too expensive to install".

How to apply for a solar subscription

If you're interested in Sunsave Plus, enter a few details here, and we’ll provide a savings estimate.

We’ll also remotely assess the suitability of your roof, and see if Sunsave Plus makes financial sense for you, as we only recommend it to people who it could benefit.

What do our customers think?

Our customers are extremely happy with Plus. Lots of them are seeing net savings, and are significantly protected against future energy bill increases.

The proof is in the pudding: after being reviewed hundreds of times on Trustpilot, we have an outstanding average rating of 4.7 stars.

You can learn more about what our customers think on our reviews page, and for accounts of what it's like to have Sunsave Plus, have a look at our customer stories.

10. Green home rewards

Are you eligible for green home rewards?

Anyone who mortgages or remortgages their property with Barclays, Halifax, or Lloyds – and anyone who gets a mortgage with Nationwide – is eligible for a green home reward.

If you buy a home with a Nationwide mortgage that has an EPC rating of A or B, you should automatically receive your reward.

Nationwide will check your new home's EPC rating two weeks after it confirms your mortgage is in place, so there's no time to make improvements. To qualify, you just have to find a property that's already energy-efficient.

What solar funding can green home rewards provide?

Halifax and Lloyds will give you £1,000 if you install solar panels, with or without a battery, while Barclays is offering £500.

Nationwide's Green Reward scheme gives new mortgage holders £500 if the property has an A-rated EPC, or £250 if it has a B-rated EPC.

Halifax, meanwhile, will give new mortgage customers £250 if their home's EPC rating is A or B.

How to access green home rewards

You can only access Halifax and Lloyds' green home rewards if you apply directly for one of their mortgages – in a branch, over the phone, or online – instead of going through a broker.

Every year, Halifax and Lloyds create an 11-month qualifying time period, so make sure to send in your mortgage application during this time, then register for a green home reward within the next month.

If you have a Barclays mortgage, there are no time limits on when you can apply for the bank's Greener Home Reward programme – but once you carry out your home improvements, the timer will start.

You have to submit your claim form within three months of the invoice or payment date, and if it's accepted, you’ll have one month to send proof that the works happened and you paid for them.

You shouldn't even need to apply for a Nationwide Green Reward cashback, but it's worth bringing up the initiative to a representative during the mortgage application process, just in case.

The surge of green home rewards in the UK

Green home rewards have exploded in popularity in recent years, alongside green mortgages.

From four green mortgage products in 2019, this market has grown to more than 60 products, according to the Green Finance Institute.

And 57% of major mortgage lenders now offer a green mortgage of some kind, according to the Mortgage Advice Bureau.

However, as long as these products continue to offer limited financial benefits, lenders will face accusations that they're meeting their own environmental targets without having any significant impact on homeowners or the climate.

11. Solar Together

Are you eligible for Solar Together?

The scheme is open to homeowners, small or medium-sized businesses, and tenants (with their landlord’s permission).

However, it’s not available in every area. It only operates in England and Wales, and as of December 2025, in just 217 out of 339 local authorities – less than two-thirds.

Even the ones it ‘operates’ in often don’t have active schemes running, which adds to the waiting period if you’re simply not in a qualifying area for a while.

How much money can Solar Together save you?

Solar Together has secured 20-30% reductions in cost, according to the Greater London Authority.

However, the way the scheme operates can result in you saving less in the long run.

The requirements that iChoosr sets for its installers’ products are low, with a minimum solar panel efficiency of 18.1%, and a minimum product warranty of 12 years.

This is far below market standards, to the extent that you could end up spending more because of maintenance issues, and saving less due to inferior solar output levels.

The official report on Solar Together London said that “some elements of the PV solar equipment specified by iChoosr are lower than would typically be expected of a domestic rooftop solar PV specification, which will have likely contributed to some of the cost reduction.

“In particular, the installation of lower quality inverters will have reduced cost. The consequence of this decision by iChoosr may be increased warranty claims and complaints in the future.”

How to apply for Solar Together

The first step is to check on the Solar Together website if a scheme is running in your area. You can either register online or add your details to a waiting list to be notified when it becomes available in your region.

During the application process, you’ll need to provide details about your house, roof space, and typical electricity usage.

These will be used to send you a personal recommendation for the solar installation after the auction.

Defunct grants & schemes

The UK government has steadily reduced solar funding over the past few years, as is the case in other parts of Europe.

After well over a decade of the government providing financial incentives for homes to go solar, the flood of grant money has slowed to a trickle.

The Feed-in Tariff is perhaps the most famous to fall by the wayside – though it technically continues to exist for some households that signed up before the final deadline.

Here are all the most important solar grants and schemes that have run their course.

Next steps

There are a few grants and initiatives that can help make the cost of solar panels more affordable for UK households.

However, all of the main programmes – like the WH:LG, Warm Homes Nest scheme, and ECO4 – are targeted at the most disadvantaged households on these shores, and have stringent criteria as a result.

Most other schemes don't properly address the biggest barrier: the upfront cost. Green home rewards and the solar VAT discount are worthy initiatives, but they're incentives rather than a proper solution.

If you want to avoid the high upfront cost of solar panels, you should find out if Sunsave Plus will work for you. To sign up for the UK's first solar subscription, enter a few details below and we'll be in touch.

Solar panel grants: FAQs