Grants & Funding for your Renewable Energy System

Grants may be available for your green energy project

Grants and other funding are available for your green energy project. The Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides funding for part of the installation costs. This ranges from £400 for solar water heating to £2,500 for other technologies. Grants can be higher in Northern Ireland or Scotland. Community groups, public and non-profit sector applicants can also now apply. Our simple breakdown of grant levels provides an overview of grants available. To obtain a householder grant, installation must also be by an accredited contractor and your property must meet minimum energy efficiency standards.

If you run a business and wish to install renewable energy equipment at your premises, you can get 100% tax relief via the Government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme. ECAs are claimed in the business’s income tax or corporation tax return the same way as other capital allowances.

If you plan to install a solar electric (PV) system, wind turbine or hydropower turbine, then you can sell your surplus electricity.

A few local councils offer grants for energy efficiency and (occasionally) renewable energy. It’s worth contacting your local council to check.

Finally, another funding option is to include the cost of your installation in a loan or mortgage. By shopping around, your loan repayment interest can be similar to your renewable energy return on investment.

Renewable Energy Grants & Funding Checklist:

A helpful check-list:

  • First, check which grants apply to suitable renewable technologies at your site
  • Then check for local initiatives, such as Solar for London
  • For small businesses, tax relief and interest free loans for renewable energy are available.

Now find out more about...