UK home energy grants, in plain English
What is on offer in 2026, how much it pays and who qualifies. Schemes and amounts change, so every entry links to the official GOV.UK page to confirm before you apply.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
£7,500 or £9,000 depending on your current heating fuel, toward an air-source or ground-source heat pump (or biomass boiler) in England and Wales. Off-gas homes replacing oil or LPG heating get £9,000 (from 21 July 2026); everyone else gets £7,500. The installer applies on your behalf and discounts your quote.
- England & Wales, owner-occupied and most private rentals
- You must have a valid EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations
- Paid to the MCS-certified installer, off your price
Zero-rated energy materials
No VAT on solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation when supplied and fitted, until 31 March 2027. After that the rate is set to return to 5%.
- Applies UK-wide on qualifying installs
- Battery storage is included, even when added on its own
- Your installer applies it to the invoice automatically
Smart Export Guarantee
Not a grant, but income: licensed suppliers must pay you for solar electricity you export. Rates vary by supplier; the best reach around 20p per kWh.
- You choose the SEG tariff, separate from who supplies you
- Needs a smart or export meter
- Octopus and OVO publish the highest rates today
ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation funds insulation and heating upgrades for lower-income and vulnerable households, delivered through energy suppliers.
- Tied to means-tested benefits or a low-income/health flag
- Can cover insulation, heating controls and first-time heating
- Apply through your supplier or a registered installer
Great British Insulation Scheme
Help with a single insulation measure, such as cavity wall or loft insulation. Open to lower council-tax-band homes as well as those on benefits.
- Based on council tax band and EPC rating, or benefits
- Usually one main insulation measure per home
- Delivered through participating energy suppliers
Warm Home Discount
A one-off discount off your winter electricity bill for eligible low-income households. Applied automatically by most suppliers if you qualify.
- Tied to means-tested benefits and high energy costs
- Credited to your electricity account, not paid in cash
- Check your supplier is part of the scheme
Where you live changes what you can get
Heating and insulation grants are devolved, so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes alongside UK-wide measures like 0% VAT and the Smart Export Guarantee.
Scotland
Home Energy Scotland offers grants plus interest-free loans for heat pumps, solar, storage and insulation, with higher rural support.
Home Energy Scotland →Wales
The Nest scheme provides free home energy improvements for eligible households, including heating and insulation.
Warm Homes Nest →Northern Ireland
NI Direct lists the Affordable Warmth and boiler replacement schemes for lower-income owner-occupiers.
NI Direct →See what a grant does to your numbers
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, £7,500 or £9,000 depending on your current heating fuel, changes heat-pump payback. 0% VAT lowers a solar quote. Run your own figures with the grant applied.