What support is genuinely available.
Solar Panel Grants and Funding in England and Wales
Search for solar panel grants and you will find a great many adverts promising free solar panels. The honest position is simpler: there is no general grant that pays for solar panels on any home in England or Wales. There are, however, real schemes that reduce the cost or pay you for the electricity you export, and every homeowner should understand them.
This page covers what applies to solar panels, battery storage and home EV chargers. It is written by Cozy Home Solutions, an MCS certified installer based in Cowley, Oxford, working across England and Wales.
Is there a grant for solar panels?
Not a universal one. The support that applies to most households is not a lump-sum grant but a combination of tax relief and export payments. Any company offering free solar panels to everyone should be treated with caution; ask exactly which scheme is paying, and check that scheme with the official source before you sign anything.
0% VAT on solar panels and batteries
Solar panels and battery storage installed in homes currently carry 0% VAT. It applies automatically to a qualifying residential installation and needs no application. It is currently scheduled to run until 31 March 2027. Our 0% VAT page explains what qualifies and what does not.
The Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee requires larger electricity suppliers to offer a tariff for the electricity your solar panels export to the grid. It is not a grant, but it is ongoing income from your system. You normally need an MCS certificate for your installation and a smart meter to join. Our Smart Export Guarantee page explains how it works and how to apply.
Council and community schemes
Some local councils run or support group-buying schemes for solar panels and batteries, and some offer targeted help for lower-income households. These vary by area, open and close at different times, and have their own eligibility rules. Check your own council's website for anything currently running where you live.
Support for EV charge points
Government support for home charge points is targeted rather than general. It has focused on people who rent or live in flats, rather than homeowners with their own driveway. Eligibility and amounts change, so check the current Office for Zero Emission Vehicles guidance before relying on it.
Separately, planning rules for home charge points in England change on 21 October 2026, extending permitted development beyond off-street parking in some circumstances. Our EV charger planning guide sets out the detail.
Spreading the cost
Cozy Home Solutions does not provide credit itself. We are an introducer to finance providers, which can help spread the cost of an installation for those who prefer not to pay up front. Finance is subject to status, and the details are set out in our footer and terms.
How to check you are getting the support you are entitled to
Make sure your installer is MCS certified, so you can join a Smart Export Guarantee tariff. Make sure your quotation shows 0% VAT on the solar panels and battery. And check any council scheme in your area before you commit. At your free home survey we can talk you through how each applies to your property.
- MCS certificate provided at handover
- 0% VAT shown on solar and battery items
- SEG tariff chosen after installation
- Local council schemes checked for your area
Why homeowners choose Cozy Home Solutions
Cozy Home Solutions Ltd is an MCS certified installer of solar panels, battery storage and home EV chargers, based at Unit 2, Old Station Yard, Watlington Road, Cowley, Oxford, and working with homeowners across England and Wales. We are registered with NAPIT, HIES and EPVS, and we are a Hometree partner.
Every installation starts with a free home survey and a written quotation. When the work is finished, your system is commissioned and handed over with its MCS certificate, the DNO notification and the manufacturer warranties registered in your name. Battery cover runs to 10 years, and the installation itself is protected by an insurance-backed guarantee.
- Free home survey before any proposal
- DMEGC solar panels, Fox ESS batteries and Fox ESS EV chargers
- MCS certificate, DNO notification and warranties in your name
- Call 0800 688 9666, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 19:00
Frequently asked questions
Can I get free solar panels?
There is no general scheme that provides free solar panels to every home in England or Wales. Some targeted schemes help specific households, so check the official source for any offer before signing.
What financial support is there for solar panels?
Most households benefit from 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries for homes, and from the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays for electricity you export to the grid.
Is there a grant for home batteries?
There is no general grant for home batteries, but battery storage installed in a home currently qualifies for 0% VAT, including batteries added to an existing solar system.
Does my council offer solar grants?
Some councils run group-buying or targeted support schemes, but these vary by area and change over time. Check your own council's website for current schemes.
Do I need an MCS installer to benefit?
To join a Smart Export Guarantee tariff you normally need an MCS certificate for your installation, so using an MCS certified installer matters.