Grants
Scotland
Home Energy Scotland loan
Eligible products: Solar panels and solar batteries and air source heat pumps
Regional availability: Scotland only
Overview: Home Energy Scotland offers grants and an interest-free loan funded by the Scottish Government. It aims to make it easier to carry out energy and money-saving improvements to your home. The amount of funding you may be able to claim depends on the improvements you want to make – for example energy saving, renewables systems or secondary improvements.
Loan value: For solar panels, the maximum loan available is £4,750 if taken as part of a package of approved measures, for example with a heat pump.
Grant value: A £1250 grant is available when homeowners install a package of measures such as solar panels and an air source heat pump.
Eligibility: For free, impartial advice on the Home Energy Scotland grants and loans call Home Energy Scotland free on 0808 808 2282 and they will advise on if you are potentially eligible for any financial support for energy saving improvements to your home and further terms and conditions.
Application process: If you’re applying for a Home Energy Scotland loan, you’ll need a quote from an installer to support your application. You can start your loan application now and save it for completion once your chosen installer has been able to provide quotes.
Link to official grant website: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/
Requirements to qualify for this grant:
- No special requirements
Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex)
Local Authority Eligibility Flexibility (LA Flex) is part of the government-backed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme that aims to help homes in the UK reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. LA Flex is intended for households that are at risk of fuel poverty due to a low income but are not currently receiving any government benefits.
Usually, this is done by fully or part-funding the of fitting energy saving home improvements, such as different types of insulation, which will help low energy efficiency homes reduce their bills and carbon footprints. Thanks to LA Flex, Local Authorities are now able to draft their own eligibility criteria. In a lot of cases, the eligibility criteria now take into other factors outside of benefits, including illnesses, pregnancy, children in a households, and if the resident are of an age that might make them vulnerable.
LA Flex needs to define criteria that demonstrate residents are either living in fuel poverty or are on a low income and vulnerable. Local Authorities have the ability to use LA Flex to help homeowners and privately renting tenants receive funding for the installation of energy efficient home improvements. However, LA Flex won’t be the right option for everyone as the funding is not applicable for social housing tenants.
Link to official grant website: https://eco4.org.uk/local-authority-flex-delivery-scheme-lads/
LA Flex is aimed at two groups of people that are on low incomes:
- Individuals that are living in fuel poverty – defined as homes spending a minimum of 10% of their net income on keeping their property warm.
- People who are more exposed and at risk during cold winter weather including:
Requirements to qualify for this grant:
- Those with cardiovascular conditions
- Individuals with respiratory conditions
- People with disabilities
- People with mental health conditions or learning disabilities that restruct an individual's ability to take care of themselves (including people with dementia)
- Older residents (age 65 and over)
- Homes with young children (age 0-5)
- Pregnant women
ECO 4 Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is an energy efficiency scheme in Scotland which provides government-backed grant funding for energy-saving measures in the home. The government has obligated the larger energy companies to put money aside for the scheme. Eligible Scottish homeowners and private tenants who are deemed to live in fuel poverty can claim a 100% non-repayable grant to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
ECO4 grants in Scotland will run until March 2026. Under the grant scheme, energy suppliers are required to provide grants for energy-saving measures in three categories: heating, insulation, and low-carbon technologies. This can include things like cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Who is eligible for an ECO grant?
the ECO grant scheme is open to families where a member of the household claims one of the benefits below. To claim a grant for solar PV panels your home must also have an existing EPC rating of E, F or G. This means that your home is not already energy efficient. This type of property would benefit most from a new solar installation.
ECO4 Grant Eligibility
ECO4 grants cover the supply and installation of solar panels in Scotland. They also provide funding for heating upgrades and insulation. The scheme is aimed at inefficient properties where the EPC rating is an E or below.
To be eligible a member of your household must claiming one of a list of benefits (below)
In addition to the above means tested benefits, low-income households may be eligible if they claim the child regular benefit payment. This type of grant is means tested. If you or someone who lives with you claims child benefit, the total gross household earnings must be below the following thresholds:
| Number of Children | Single Claimant | Member of a Couple |
| 1 child | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 children | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 children | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4+ children | £34,500 | £42,000 |
The latest version of the scheme focuses on lower-income families and people with inefficient heating like electric heaters, oil boilers and LPG central heating. Many of these properties are in rural locations.
You do not have to be signed up with one of these energy suppliers to receive an ECO grant. As long as you are a domestic electricity user in Scotland any one of these providers can carry out the work required in your home.
Any solar install under the ECO grant scheme in Scotland is supplied and fitted completely free of charge. You don’t have to pay any money back, even if you move home.
Are ECO4 Grants in Scotland Free?
ECO4 grants in Scotland are completely free for eligible households. Any work carried out under the grant scheme is free of charge and no customer contribution is necessary. The grant covers the cost of installing any energy efficieny measure and all materials including additional ventilation and remedial work.
What does the solar panel grant cover?
Under the ECO scheme solar panels are completely free so you do not pay for the PV panels or the cost of installation. Grants for free solar energy storage batteries are not provided under the scheme, however, but they can be added at a later date if desired. Although you would have to cover the cost of this yourself.
How do I apply for an ECO grant in Scotland?
Applying for an ECO grant in Scotland is easy. There are no complicated forms or application process. Simply get in touch to arrange an appointment with an energy assessor. The surveyor will arrange an appointment at your convenience.
When the assessor visits your home, you will be required to provide proof of residency and benefit status. We will assess your home to see what measures you require and arrange an install date. We then claim the money back for the ECO 4 Grant in Scotland through the energy providers.
UKSOL had developed a special optimised Innovation Measure solar PV module which incorporates anti-shading technology, online monitoring and additional safety features to deliver higher performance.
An application for an ECO Innovation Measure was made by Happy Energy Solutions Ltd, in partnership with UKSOL and EDF, to Ofgem and now that it has been approved, can be deployed as a heating measure to improve the EPC rating of homes which contain an eligible form of electric heating system*, or where such a heating system is installed alongside. ECO4 funding can used to fund the measure, which includes in social housing homes with an EPC of D or below. As an approved Innovation Measure, installers can claim between 25-50% extra ECO funding (please contact us for more details).
*Eligible heating systems include high heat retention storage heaters, certain electric boilers and heat pumps (including gas hybrid heat pumps)
Link to official grant website: https://eco4.org.uk/
Requirements to qualify for this grant:
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
- Income Support
- Income Based ESA
- Income Based JSA
- Pension Savings Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
Northern Ireland
Energy Efficiency Capital Grant
The Energy Efficiency Capital Grant (EECG) will help Northern Ireland businesses reduce energy costs and build resilience through efficiency. It will offer grant support to buy and install energy efficient equipment that reduces energy and carbon emissions.
The call for applications will open on Monday 29 April 2024 at 12:00 noon.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Grants of up to £150k are available to help businesses buy and install energy efficient equipment. The rate of support covers the total eligible project costs and is based on company size:
- Large – maximum of 30%
- Medium – maximum of 40%
- Small & Micro – maximum of 50%
Examples of projects that will be considered for the grant include:
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Motors and drives
- Compressed air
- Lighting
- Onsite renewable generation
Eligible projects must:
- have a total eligible spend of at least £4,000
- demonstrate energy and carbon emission savings, these figures vary depending on the type of project
- achieve a payback of between 1 and 8 years. A higher payback may be allowed but these projects will require a higher level of energy and carbon savings.
To qualify for this grant:
- To be eligible, businesses must be: a registered company based in Northern Ireland trading for at least 2 years implementing the project at premises which are registered for business rates with Land and Property Services the owner of these premises, or have a rental agreement that exceeds the payback period of your project. Some business exclusions apply.
Wales
Nest Scheme
Nest scheme a grant exclusively open to those living in Wales.
Through Nest, Welsh homes can benefit from free, impartial advice on how to make your home warmer and more energy efficient. Eligible households can also be guided towards free home improvements, such as insulation and solar panels.
Link to official grant website: https://nest.gov.wales/
You could be eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements if you meet all three conditions below:
- Nest scheme a grant exclusively open to those living in Wales.
- Through Nest, Welsh homes can benefit from free, impartial advice on how to make your home warmer and more energy efficient. Eligible households can also be guided towards free home improvements, such as insulation and solar panels.
- To be eligible for Nest, Welsh homes must:
To qualify for this grant:
- You own or privately rent your home (not from a local authority or housing association).
- Your home is energy inefficient and expensive to heat.
- You or someone you live with receives a means tested benefit OR has a chronic respiratory, circulatory, or mental health condition and an income below the defined thresholds.
Local Authority Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex)
Local Authority Eligibility Flexibility (LA Flex) is part of the government-backed Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme that aims to help homes in the UK reduce their carbon footprint and lower their energy bills. LA Flex is intended for households that are at risk of fuel poverty due to a low income but are not currently receiving any government benefits.
Usually, this is done by fully or part-funding the of fitting energy saving home improvements, such as different types of insulation, which will help low energy efficiency homes reduce their bills and carbon footprints. Thanks to LA Flex, Local Authorities are now able to draft their own eligibility criteria. In a lot of cases, the eligibility criteria now take into other factors outside of benefits, including illnesses, pregnancy, children in a households, and if the resident are of an age that might make them vulnerable.
LA Flex needs to define criteria that demonstrate residents are either living in fuel poverty or are on a low income and vulnerable. Local Authorities have the ability to use LA Flex to help homeowners and privately renting tenants receive funding for the installation of energy efficient home improvements. However, LA Flex won’t be the right option for everyone as the funding is not applicable for social housing tenants.
Link to official grant website: https://eco4.org.uk/local-authority-flex-delivery-scheme-lads/
LA Flex is aimed at two groups of people that are on low incomes:
- Individuals that are living in fuel poverty – defined as homes spending a minimum of 10% of their net income on keeping their property warm.
- People who are more exposed and at risk during cold winter weather including:
To qualify for this grant:
- Those with cardiovascular conditions
- Individuals with respiratory conditions
- People with disabilities
- People with mental health conditions or learning disabilities that restruct an individual's ability to take care of themselves (including people with dementia)
- Older residents (age 65 and over)
- Homes with young children (age 0-5)
- Pregnant women
ECO 4 Scheme
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is an energy efficiency scheme in Scotland which provides government-backed grant funding for energy-saving measures in the home. The government has obligated the larger energy companies to put money aside for the scheme. Eligible Scottish homeowners and private tenants who are deemed to live in fuel poverty can claim a 100% non-repayable grant to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
ECO4 grants in Scotland will run until March 2026. Under the grant scheme, energy suppliers are required to provide grants for energy-saving measures in three categories: heating, insulation, and low-carbon technologies. This can include things like cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
Who is eligible for an ECO grant?
the ECO grant scheme is open to families where a member of the household claims one of the benefits below. To claim a grant for solar PV panels your home must also have an existing EPC rating of E, F or G. This means that your home is not already energy efficient. This type of property would benefit most from a new solar installation.
ECO4 Grant Eligibility
ECO4 grants cover the supply and installation of solar panels in Scotland. They also provide funding for heating upgrades and insulation. The scheme is aimed at inefficient properties where the EPC rating is an E or below.
To be eligible a member of your household must claiming one of a list of benefits (below)
In addition to the above means tested benefits, low-income households may be eligible if they claim the child regular benefit payment. This type of grant is means tested. If you or someone who lives with you claims child benefit, the total gross household earnings must be below the following thresholds:
| Number of Children | Single Claimant | Member of a Couple |
| 1 child | £19,900 | £27,500 |
| 2 children | £24,800 | £32,300 |
| 3 children | £29,600 | £37,200 |
| 4+ children | £34,500 | £42,000 |
The latest version of the scheme focuses on lower-income families and people with inefficient heating like electric heaters, oil boilers and LPG central heating. Many of these properties are in rural locations.
You do not have to be signed up with one of these energy suppliers to receive an ECO grant. As long as you are a domestic electricity user in Scotland any one of these providers can carry out the work required in your home.
Any solar install under the ECO grant scheme in Scotland is supplied and fitted completely free of charge. You don’t have to pay any money back, even if you move home.
Are ECO4 Grants in Scotland Free?
ECO4 grants in Scotland are completely free for eligible households. Any work carried out under the grant scheme is free of charge and no customer contribution is necessary. The grant covers the cost of installing any energy efficieny measure and all materials including additional ventilation and remedial work.
What does the solar panel grant cover?
Under the ECO scheme solar panels are completely free so you do not pay for the PV panels or the cost of installation. Grants for free solar energy storage batteries are not provided under the scheme, however, but they can be added at a later date if desired. Although you would have to cover the cost of this yourself.
How do I apply for an ECO grant in Scotland?
Applying for an ECO grant in Scotland is easy. There are no complicated forms or application process. Simply get in touch to arrange an appointment with an energy assessor. The surveyor will arrange an appointment at your convenience.
When the assessor visits your home, you will be required to provide proof of residency and benefit status. We will assess your home to see what measures you require and arrange an install date. We then claim the money back for the ECO 4 Grant in Scotland through the energy providers.
UKSOL had developed a special optimised Innovation Measure solar PV module which incorporates anti-shading technology, online monitoring and additional safety features to deliver higher performance.
An application for an ECO Innovation Measure was made by Happy Energy Solutions Ltd, in partnership with UKSOL and EDF, to Ofgem and now that it has been approved, can be deployed as a heating measure to improve the EPC rating of homes which contain an eligible form of electric heating system*, or where such a heating system is installed alongside. ECO4 funding can used to fund the measure, which includes in social housing homes with an EPC of D or below. As an approved Innovation Measure, installers can claim between 25-50% extra ECO funding (please contact us for more details).
*Eligible heating systems include high heat retention storage heaters, certain electric boilers and heat pumps (including gas hybrid heat pumps)
Link to official grant website: https://eco4.org.uk/
To qualify for this grant:
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
- Income Support
- Income Based ESA
- Income Based JSA
- Pension Savings Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Universal Credit
