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.

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.

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.

Are there free solar panels?

But there are very few free solar panel schemes available now. The Feed-in tariff scheme closed to new applicants in 2019 and has been replaced by the much-less-generous Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, making it much less attractive to businesses to offer free solar schemes. Learn about the Smart Export Guarantee scheme.

Are solar panels VAT free in the UK?

Since April 2022, UK homes have been able to benefit from zero VAT on solar panel materials and installation. The scheme ends in March 2027 and returns to 5% VAT. While it's at 0%, the average family can save more than £1,000 when choosing to have solar panels installed and up to a further £1,180 a year on energy bills.

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.