Cornish homeowners ask us "is there a grant for solar?" almost every week, and the honest answer in 2026 is: for most households, no - the 0% VAT relief is the only universal benefit. But there are real grants for low-income households, off-grid properties, and farms - it's worth checking eligibility before you pay full price. This guide covers what's actually open in 2026, what's closed, and what the marketing pages don't tell you.
Schemes summary at a glance
| Scheme | Status (2026) | Who's eligible | Solar PV covered? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% VAT on solar | Open until 31 March 2027 | All UK residential properties | Yes - panels, batteries, inverters, labour |
| ECO4 | Open until 31 December 2026 | Low-income, on means-tested benefits, EPC D or below | Sometimes - usually alongside heating/insulation measures |
| Great British Insulation Scheme | Closed March 2026 | n/a | n/a |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Open | Household income under £36k, EPC D-G | Yes - alongside insulation |
| Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) | Open | All MCS-certified installs | Pays for exported electricity, not the install |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) | Open | Air or ground source heat pumps | No - solar PV is NOT covered |
| FETF (Farming Equipment & Technology Fund) | Periodic rounds | English farmers and growers | Yes - 25% of cost up to £100k for roof-mounted PV |
The reality: 0% VAT is the main "grant" for most people
The 0% VAT relief, in force until 31 March 2027, saves you the 20% standard rate on a solar install. On a typical £8,000 4kW system that's £1,333 off. Calling it a grant is generous - it's a tax relief - but functionally it's the universal benefit. After March 2027, the rate is currently scheduled to revert to 5%.
ECO4: the closest thing to free solar (if you qualify)
The Energy Company Obligation 4 scheme runs until 31 December 2026. It's funded by the big energy suppliers and delivered by accredited installers. Solar PV can be funded under ECO4, but usually only alongside primary heating measures (heat pump, biomass boiler, district heating connection) or major insulation.
To qualify in 2026 you generally need:
- To own your home OR have landlord's written consent (private rented)
- An EPC rating of D, E, F or G (lower is better for eligibility)
- To receive at least one means-tested benefit: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA or ESA, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Housing Benefit
- Local Authority Flex eligibility may apply if you don't receive benefits but have low income or specific health conditions (varies by area - Cornwall Council operates a flex scheme)
What ECO4 doesn't fund:
- Solar PV alone on an already-efficient home
- Battery storage in most cases
- Holiday lets or second homes
- Most A-, B- or C-rated EPC properties
Don't trust adverts saying "free solar for everyone" - they're usually trying to qualify you under ECO4 and they'll waste your time if you don't fit. Check eligibility honestly first. If you're not on benefits and your EPC is C or above, ECO4 isn't for you.
Warm Homes: Local Grant
The replacement for the Great British Insulation Scheme (which closed 31 March 2026). Warm Homes: Local Grant covers insulation and solar PV for households with income under £36,000 and EPC D-G. Delivered by local authorities - in Cornwall this is run through Cornwall Council and partner installers.
Eligibility is broader than ECO4 (you don't need to be on benefits), and the income cap is generous for Cornwall where median household income is below the national figure. If you're in a draughty older Cornish granite property with EPC D or below, this is worth investigating.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) - not a grant, but treat it like one
SEG isn't a one-off grant, but it pays you for every kWh you export to the grid - typically 12-25p/kWh depending on supplier. For a 4kW Cornwall system exporting around 2,500 kWh per year, that's £300-£600 annual income. Over 25 years that's £7,500-£15,000 - effectively a back-end grant equal to the install cost.
To register you need:
- An MCS certificate from your installer (which is why MCS-certified install matters - see our MCS guide)
- A smart meter capable of half-hourly export readings
- A signed SEG agreement with a participating supplier (you can use a different supplier from your import one)
Detail on rates and choosing a tariff is in our SEG explained guide.
FETF: the farm solar grant
If you have agricultural land or farm buildings, the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund Round 3 (the previous solar-specific Improving Farm Productivity grant closed earlier - successor scheme expected) offers up to 25% of solar PV costs (£15k-£100k grant range). Solar must be roof-mounted on farm buildings; ground-mount and reservoir floating PV are usually excluded.
We cover farm-specific routes in detail in our farm solar Cornwall guide - including how Cornish dairy and arable operations are using it.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) - common confusion
BUS offers £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump (or £5,000 for biomass boilers in rural areas). It does not cover solar PV. The two systems pair well (solar generation can power heat pump electricity demand), but you can only claim BUS on the heat pump itself.
If you're considering both - solar plus heat pump - the financial case is strong: BUS knocks £7,500 off the heat pump, 0% VAT applies to both, and solar self-consumption rises because the heat pump uses electricity year-round.
"Free solar" adverts - what they actually mean
Companies advertise "free solar panels" - they usually mean one of three things:
- You qualify for ECO4 or Warm Homes Local Grant and they're hoping to install you. Legitimate, but only works if you meet eligibility.
- Solar PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) - they own the panels on your roof and you buy electricity from them at a discounted rate. You get "free" install but no SEG income, no resale uplift, and a 20-25 year contract restriction on your roof. Largely fallen out of UK domestic favour but still occasionally advertised.
- Misleading clickbait - the offer doesn't exist and they're harvesting leads. Walk away.
Local Cornwall schemes worth checking
- Cornwall Council Sustainable Energy team - publishes regularly updated lists of current grants. Worth a quick search.
- Community Energy Plus - Cornwall-based community energy non-profit. Sometimes runs subsidised group-buy schemes for solar.
- Cornwall Climate Emergency Action Plan grants - small grants for community renewable projects (churches, halls, schools).
Want to know what schemes you actually qualify for? Submit your postcode with a quick description of your circumstances and we'll point you at the right routes.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any 100% free solar grants for Cornwall homeowners in 2026?
Only if you meet ECO4 eligibility (means-tested benefits + low EPC) or Warm Homes Local Grant (income under £36k + EPC D-G). For most households the only "discount" is 0% VAT, worth around £1,300 on a 4kW install.
Is the Smart Export Guarantee a grant?
No - it's an ongoing payment for exported electricity, not a one-off install grant. But over 25 years it can match or exceed the install cost, so the lifetime financial effect is similar.
Does the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover solar panels?
No. BUS is heat-pump-specific (£7,500 grant) and excludes solar PV. But solar plus heat pump is a strong financial combination because heat pumps multiply solar self-consumption.
Are there solar grants for landlords?
Limited. ECO4 covers private rented if the tenant qualifies AND the landlord consents. Warm Homes Local Grant has similar provisions. Most landlord solar installs are funded privately, attracted by the future EPC rating uplift (rising minimum standards by 2030).
What happened to the Feed-in Tariff?
Closed to new applications March 2019. The Smart Export Guarantee replaced it but at lower per-kWh rates and without index-linking. If you have legacy FiT panels, your rates continue for the original 20-year term.
Are there grants for solar batteries?
Limited and usually only as part of ECO4 or Warm Homes packages. Batteries do qualify for 0% VAT (since Feb 2024), even when installed standalone without panels.
What about Cornwall Council direct schemes?
Cornwall Council runs ECO Flex assessments (broadening ECO4 eligibility for certain households not on benefits), Warm Homes referrals, and occasional community grants. Search "Cornwall Council Sustainable Energy" for the current list.
Is it worth waiting for new grants to be announced?
No. Solar grant policy has been stable for 2+ years; the most likely change is the 0% VAT ending or reducing in March 2027 - that's a reason to install sooner, not later. Every year you wait you lose a year of generation.