Commercial solar panel grants — every active UK route in one table.
Full Expensing. 0% VAT. SEG. REPF. Local Growth Fund. Salix BAU loans. GBE Community Fund. Scottish IETF. Welsh Industrial Decarbonisation. Invest NI Capital Grants. The 2026 active stack — plus the three big ones that closed in 2024 — every route, who qualifies, how much, what status.
Every UK commercial solar panel grant — May 2026
All schemes verified against gov.uk and individual funder announcements. The "Active" rows are open to new applications now. The "Closed" rows are no longer accepting new applications but existing awards continue to deliver.
| Scheme | Status | Coverage | Who qualifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Expensing | Active | ~25% of capex via tax | UK incorporated companies | No application; claimed on CT return |
| 0% VAT on commercial solar | Active | ~17% off VAT-inclusive cost | Any UK business | Applied at invoice |
| Annual Investment Allowance | Active | 100% on first £1m of plant | Sole traders, partnerships, companies | Same effect as Full Expensing |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Active | 5-40p/kWh exported | Any business with MCS PV under 5MW | Recurring revenue |
| REPF | Active | Up to 40% capex | Rural enterprises, council-eligible | Council-administered |
| Local Growth Fund | Active | Variable, £25k-£500k typical | 11 Mayoral Authority areas | Replaces UKSPF April 2026 |
| Salix BAU loans | Active | Interest-free, repaid from savings | Public sector | Separate from PSDS |
| GBE Community Fund | Active | Feasibility/dev funding | Community-led organisations | Charities, faith buildings, social clubs |
| Scottish IETF (SIETF) | Active | Up to 30% (50% deep decarb) | Scottish manufacturers | Separate from English IETF |
| Welsh Industrial Decarbonisation | Active | Variable | Welsh manufacturers | Welsh Government route |
| Invest NI Capital Grants | Active | 15-30% of qualifying capex | Northern Ireland businesses | Case-by-case via DfE |
| IETF Phase 3 (England/Wales) | Closed | — closed to new apps | — closed to new apps | Spring 2024 was final window |
| PSDS Phase 4 | Closed | — closed to new apps | — closed to new apps | Closed November 2024 |
| UKSPF | Closed | — closed | — closed | Closed 31 March 2026 |
How to combine grants for maximum benefit
The right answer is normally a stack — multiple routes layered to compound the saving. The UK Subsidy Control Act 2022 prohibits double-grant funding for the same plant, but tax allowances and recurring revenue routes always layer on top.
Tax-only stack — for any UK incorporated business
Full Expensing (25% via corporation tax) + 0% VAT (~17% on VAT-inclusive cost) + SEG (export revenue 5-40p/kWh). No application required. Works for every UK incorporated commercial solar project. Effective subsidy: ~40% of capex equivalent.
Tax + grant stack — where eligible
Full Expensing + 0% VAT + SEG + REPF (rural) OR Local Growth Fund (Mayoral Authority area) OR Salix BAU loan (public sector). Effective subsidy: 50-65% of capex equivalent.
Zero-capex stack — PPA + tax routing
Power Purchase Agreement structure where a third-party investor pays for and owns the asset. The investor claims Full Expensing on the asset. You buy electricity at a fixed pence/kWh, typically 6-9p below grid prices. Effective subsidy embedded in the PPA tariff.
Sector-specific grant pages
Each sector has different funding access — see the dedicated pages:
- Solar grants for manufacturers — IETF closed; SIETF for Scottish manufacturers
- Solar grants for farms — REPF still active
- Solar grants for schools — PSDS closed; Salix BAU loans + LCSF
- Solar grants for NHS trusts — PSDS closed; Salix loans + PPAs
- Solar grants for hotels — Full Expensing + PPA dominant
- Solar grants for warehouses — PPA + Full Expensing
- Solar grants for retail — Full Expensing + PPA + canopies
- Solar grants for offices — BREEAM credit value driver
Individual grant route pages
For deeper detail on each active route:
- Full Expensing — the most reliable 2026 commercial solar subsidy
- Smart Export Guarantee — recurring revenue for surplus exports
- SEG tariffs compared — supplier-by-supplier analysis
- Power Purchase Agreements — zero-capex commercial solar
- Salix funding — public sector loans and LCSF
- Local Growth Fund — UKSPF successor for Mayoral Authority areas
- Full grants and funding hub — all schemes in one place
What we do for clients
The free funding review takes 4 minutes. We come back within one working day with a written shortlist of routes you would credibly use, indicative system sizing, and ballpark capex with payback after support. Engagement fees only kick in if you ask us to write the application — we never charge for the initial scoping.
Commercial solar panel grant FAQs
What commercial solar panel grants are available in 2026?
Are commercial solar panel grants 100% funded?
How do I find out if my business qualifies for solar panel grants?
How long does a commercial solar grant application take?
Can I get more than one solar panel grant?
What's the difference between IETF and Salix PSDS?
Will IETF or PSDS reopen?
See which grants your business qualifies for — free 20-minute funding review.
Tell us your sector, roof size and energy spend. We come back within one working day with a shortlist of grants and the realistic capex you can expect to recover.
No obligation. We don't charge for grant scoping.