Solar Grants & Incentives — 2026 Guide
Everything available to reduce the cost of solar panels, battery storage, and EV chargers in the UK right now.
Updated March 2026 · Verified against current DESNZ and Ofgem guidance
What's Available in 2026
There's no single large grant for most homeowners — but several schemes combine to significantly reduce the cost of going solar.
Zero VAT on Solar & Battery
All residential solar panel and battery storage installations qualify for 0% VAT until at least March 2027. On a typical £8,000 system, this saves £1,333.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Get paid for surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. Income varies by supplier — the best rates currently around 15p/kWh from Octopus Energy.
OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant
Up to £350 off a home EV charger installation for qualifying customers in flats and rental properties. We handle the application.
0% VAT on Solar Panels — How It Works
From 1 April 2022, the UK government reduced VAT on solar panel and battery storage installations to 0%. This is currently confirmed until at least March 2027.
What's covered at 0% VAT
- Solar panels (all types)
- Hybrid and string inverters
- Battery storage systems
- Mounting systems and scaffolding
- All associated labour
What's NOT covered
- EV chargers (20% VAT applies)
- General electrical works unrelated to the solar installation
- Consumer unit upgrades (20% VAT — though typically a small cost)
What does it actually save?
- £6,500 system → saves £1,083 vs 20% VAT
- £8,500 system → saves £1,417 vs 20% VAT
- £12,000 solar + battery → saves £2,000 vs 20% VAT
The 0% rate applies to the entire installation — panels, inverter, battery, mounting, cabling, and labour — when purchased as a single service from an installer. All our quotes are issued at 0% VAT for qualifying residential installations.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
The SEG replaced the old Feed-in Tariff in January 2020. Unlike the FiT, there's no fixed government rate — suppliers compete to offer the best rates.
| Supplier | Tariff Name | Export Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Octopus | Up to 15p/kWh | Variable rate, requires smart meter |
| EDF Energy | SEG Tariff | 3–7p/kWh | Fixed rate options available |
| E.ON Next | Next SEG | 4.1p/kWh | Fixed rate, 12-month term |
| British Gas | Solar Export | 3.4p/kWh | Standard rate, no time-of-use |
Important: To qualify for SEG, your installation must be MCS certified and your property must have a smart meter (or be willing to have one installed — free from your energy supplier). We issue MCS certificates on every installation we complete.
A 4kWp system with no battery exports approximately 2,500 kWh/year. At 7.5p/kWh average, that's around £187/year in export income. This is why battery storage improves economics — it lets you use more of that energy yourself at 28p/kWh rather than selling it for 7.5p.
OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant — Up to £350
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides a grant of up to £350 toward the cost of installing a home EV charger for qualifying customers.
Who qualifies?
- Homeowners living in a flat
- Renters with landlord permission
- Must own or have ordered an eligible EV or PHEV
- Must use an OZEV-approved installer (we are)
- Must have dedicated off-street parking
Who does NOT qualify?
- Homeowners in detached, semi or terraced houses (unless renting)
- Those without off-street parking
- Businesses (a separate workplace scheme applies)
How does it work?
- We apply on your behalf at no extra charge
- Grant is deducted from your invoice directly
- You don't handle any money — it's seamless
- Allow a few extra days for grant approval before booking
The grant reduces a standard smart charger installation from £899 to around £549 for qualifying customers. Call us or use the calculator to get a fixed quote — we'll confirm your eligibility during the assessment.
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) — up to £14,000 per business
The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme is a government grant for businesses, charities and public sector organisations installing EV chargepoints at their premises. Currently £350 per socket, up to 40 sockets per business — that's up to £14,000 per business in grant funding.
Who qualifies:
- Registered UK businesses, charities and public sector organisations
- Must have dedicated off-street parking
- Must use an OZEV-approved installer (we are)
- Must install OZEV-approved chargepoints (we install only approved hardware)
We handle the entire WCS application on your behalf — voucher claim, evidence pack and submission. Most clients receive their grant within 4-6 weeks of installation.
Find out about commercial EV charging
Survey, install, WCS grant claim and 12-month support — all included.
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — solar for tenants
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced a "right to request" clause that means landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to install reversible energy efficiency measures, including balcony solar.
If you're a tenant in Milton Keynes or Buckinghamshire and want to add a small solar setup:
- You have a legal right to request balcony or plug-in solar
- Your landlord can only refuse on reasonable grounds (structural, listed-building, planning)
- Removable installations (which all balcony solar is) are easier to negotiate
We provide written specifications you can hand to your landlord, plus confirmation that the installation is fully reversible and won't damage the property.
See our balcony solar service
Now legal under BS 7671 Amendment 4 — MCS certified hardwired install for renters and flat owners.
0% VAT — quick summary (current to March 2027)
Until 31 March 2027, the UK applies 0% VAT to:
- Solar panels — residential installations
- Battery storage — residential, including standalone (no solar required)
- EV chargers — residential
- Heat pumps — residential (covered separately under similar relief)
- Commercial solar — also currently zero-rated
For a typical solar + battery + EV charger combined install in 2026, the 0% VAT relief is worth around £2,000-£3,500 compared to the standard 20% rate — applied automatically by your installer, no claim form needed.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) — heat pumps
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides £7,500 towards an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installation in England and Wales. We don't install heat pumps ourselves — we refer customers to trusted local ASHP installers — but the BUS works alongside our solar offering. Read our solar + heat pump guide for how the two work together.
We will not tell you we offer ECO4 or pretend to administer ASHP grants we don't qualify for. If you'd like ASHP-specific advice, we'll point you at someone we trust.
Claim What You're Entitled To
We'll advise on every available incentive during your free survey — and handle all applicable grant applications on your behalf.
MCS & NAPIT certified • OZEV approved • Based in Milton Keynes