Solar Panel Grants and Funding in Swindon 2026

Overview of Available Support

There is no single universal free solar grant in the way there has been for some heating measures, but a combination of schemes can bring the cost down a long way for many Swindon households. Eligibility varies from scheme to scheme, and several are means-tested, so it is worth checking each one against your circumstances.

Solar Together Swindon

Solar Together is a council-run group-buying scheme delivered with iChoosr, and Wiltshire Council has taken part in past rounds. Residents register interest, the council pools that demand, and installers bid for the work through a competitive tender. Because the contract covers many homes at once, prices typically come in 20% to 30% below individual quotes. New rounds open periodically, so it is worth registering interest to be notified when the next one launches.

Solar Together is open to homeowners regardless of income, so it is not means-tested. Battery storage is usually offered as an optional add-on alongside the panels. To take part, register your interest on the scheme website when a round is open; there is no obligation to proceed once you receive your personalised offer.

ECO4 LA Flex

ECO4 is part of the Energy Company Obligation, which requires larger energy suppliers to fund efficiency measures. Standard ECO4 focuses on insulation and heat pumps, but the LA Flex route lets councils refer households for solar in certain cases. It is aimed at homes in fuel poverty, those receiving means-tested benefits, or properties with a low EPC rating. Swindon Borough Council can refer eligible households into the scheme.

To apply, contact Swindon Borough Council's energy efficiency team or check through the ECO4 route directly. Funding depends on energy supplier budgets, so the scheme is not always open, and it is worth confirming current availability before counting on it.

Warm Homes Local Grant

The Warm Homes Local Grant is a council-delivered scheme that funds efficiency and low-carbon measures, separate from supplier-funded ECO4. It is generally aimed at homes in EPC bands D to G, with the property owner-occupied or privately rented with landlord consent, and subject to household income thresholds. Eligible households can receive up to £15,000, and solar panels can be included as part of a wider whole-house retrofit.

Applications go through Swindon Borough Council or the national portal. Under the whole-house approach, solar usually has to be paired with insulation measures to qualify, rather than funded on its own, so the council will assess your home as a package.

0% VAT on Solar Installations

Since April 2022, domestic solar panel installations have carried 0% VAT, down from 5% and previously 20%. On a typical 4kW to 5kW system that is worth roughly £350 to £700. The 0% rate is currently legislated to run until March 2027. Battery storage fitted at the same time as the panels also qualifies for 0% VAT, though a standalone battery retrofit still attracts 20%, which is one reason to install both together.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

The Smart Export Guarantee is a government-mandated scheme that requires large energy suppliers to pay solar owners for the electricity they export to the grid. It is not a grant but an ongoing revenue stream. A typical 4kW system in Swindon exports around 900 to 1,400 kWh a year, depending on whether you have a battery, which earns roughly £135 to £230 annually at current rates.

See the full rate comparison: Smart Export Guarantee Rates 2026: Complete UK Guide

Grants Summary