Are there free solar panel grants in the UK?

*Available solar panel grants in the UK as of April 2024 While some of the government initiatives are completely free solar panel grants, others are loans or reductions in VAT that count as solar panel government schemes. The application process and eligibility criteria for each of these are different, so let’s go over each policy.

Are there free solar panels in the UK?

Let’s outline the current state of solar panel funding in the UK In short, there is largely no such thing as “free solar panels” in terms of government grants that will cover 100% of the installation costs. You can earn money from your solar panels via the Smart Export Guarantee.

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

You may qualify for free solar panels if you're eligible for one of the UK’s four main grants. However, two of these grants are only available in England, one can only be accessed in Wales, and all of them come with stringent qualifying criteria that target the most deprived households.

Should you apply for a solar panel grant?

By applying for a solar panel grant, you could receive heavily discounted or even free solar panels, resulting in annual energy bill savings upwards of £1,040. We recently conducted a survey of over 1,540 Independent readers who own solar panels* to understand how they made the most of the solar panel funding available to them.

How do free solar panel schemes work?

'Free' solar panel schemes, also known as rent-a-roof schemes, used to be commonplace a few years ago. These were run by companies eager to cash in on the feed-in tariff (FIT). This guarantees payment in return for electricity generated using renewable technologies, including solar power.

Can you get free solar panels on a roof?

Companies offered to pay to lease your roof from you for 20-25 years and, in exchange, would install and maintain solar PV panels on it. You didn't have to pay upfront for the panels, and would also benefit from the free electricity produced by the system. But there are very few free solar panel schemes available now.