Solar panel grants & finance in Dorset
Most homeowners don't qualify for a government grant. Here's the truth about who does, and the real ways to bring the cost down if you don't: 0% VAT, export payments, and honest finance.
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The honest answer, first
Can you still get a government grant for solar in 2026?
Almost certainly not, and we'd rather tell you that up front than let a "free solar" ad string you along until you've handed over your details. The real UK schemes (ECO4, Warm Homes: Local Grant) are means-tested support for low-income or benefits households, not a general homeowner incentive, and we're not a grant broker chasing your eligibility either way. If that's not your situation, the good news is you still get real cost-reducers available to any homeowner: 0% VAT, a Smart Export Guarantee payment, and finance if you want it, set out honestly below rather than buried behind a scheme funnel.
Grant eligibility
Means-tested only
VAT on solar
0% (to 2027)
Export payment
Smart Export Guarantee
The real UK schemes, and who actually qualifies
Every live grant scheme, named plainly, with an honest open/closed status.
| Scheme | Who qualifies | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Low-income households, electricity-heated homes, certain benefits | Varies by household | Open |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Means-tested, applied via your local council (BCP / Dorset) | Varies by council | Open |
| Solar Together / Switch Together | Any homeowner, a group-buying scheme, not a grant | Bulk-buy discount, not free | Open |
| Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) | Closed to new applicants | N/A | Closed |
New Gen doesn't broker grant-funded installs, our scope is install, battery, EV and off-grid work, priced and quoted honestly. If you think you might qualify for one of the schemes above, we'd still rather you check directly with the scheme or your council than take our word for it, our job is the install, not the paperwork.
Don't qualify? Here's what every Dorset homeowner does get
The real, non-means-tested ways to bring the cost down.
0% VAT
Most residential solar and battery installs qualify for 0% VAT until 2027, an automatic saving, no application needed, and no waiting to hear if you've been accepted.
Smart Export Guarantee
Get paid for the power you export back to the grid, at a rate that varies considerably by supplier, we'll advise on the best tariff at survey, though we can't apply for it on your behalf.
Honest finance
Finance is built into our quoting platform if you want to spread the cost, sized so the saving and export payment can cover most of the repayment, see the honest breakdown below.
A real local quote
No grant-broker funnel and no "find prices now" calculator that sells your details on, a straight, no-pressure quote for your actual roof and usage, confirmed at a free survey.
Getting paid to export
The Smart Export Guarantee, what it actually pays
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for the electricity your system generates but you don't use, and exports back to the grid. Every energy supplier has to offer a SEG tariff by law, but the rate they pay is entirely up to them, and the gap between a poor tariff and a genuinely good one is often worth more over a year than most homeowners expect. We'll advise on the best export tariff for your situation as part of your quote, comparing what's currently available rather than leaving you to work it out from a supplier's small print. As with any independent installer, we can't apply for the export tariff on your behalf, that's done directly with your chosen energy supplier once your MCS certificate is issued.
Comparing export tariffs, not just defining SEG
| Typical low-rate tariff | A strong export tariff | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means for you | Lower ongoing return on exported power | Meaningfully higher ongoing return |
| Who advises you | Often left for you to work out alone | We advise on the best fit at survey |
| Who applies | Your energy supplier, not us | Your energy supplier, not us |
0% VAT
0% VAT on solar, until 2027
Most residential solar panel and battery storage installations qualify for 0% VAT, automatically applied to your quote, no application, no means test. It's in place until 2027, and it's the single biggest cost-reducer available to a normal homeowner who doesn't qualify for a means-tested grant. Unlike the schemes above, there's nothing to apply for and nobody to be turned down by, if your install qualifies, the saving is simply reflected in the price we quote you, not bolted on afterwards or used as a sales hook.
Paying for it
Buying outright, or spreading the cost
You can buy your system outright, or spread the cost with finance. If you would like to look at finance, we can introduce you to Phoenix Financial Consultants, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and will talk you through what is available. All finance is subject to status and credit checks. We would also say plainly that some customers find a home improvement loan from their own bank suits them better, so it is worth comparing before you decide. We are not financial advisers and we will not tell you which option to take, but we will always be straight with you about what a system costs and what it should save.
Grant vs buying it yourself, honestly compared
| If you qualified for a grant | Buying it yourself (most homeowners) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Partly or fully covered | From £8,825, 0% VAT applied |
| Eligibility | Means-tested, most homeowners don't qualify | No means test, anyone can buy |
| Speed to install | Often slower, scheme administration | A few weeks from deposit to install |
| Choice of installer/spec | Often limited to scheme-approved options | Your choice, your spec, your warranty |
| Ongoing return | Same SEG export payment applies | Same SEG export payment applies |
Can you still get a government grant for solar panels?
Almost certainly not, unless you're on a low income or certain benefits. The live UK schemes (ECO4, Warm Homes: Local Grant) are means-tested support, not a general homeowner incentive, we'd rather tell you honestly than let you chase a dead end.
Who is eligible for a solar panel grant in the UK?
ECO4 covers low-income households in electricity-heated homes. Warm Homes: Local Grant is means-tested and applied for through your local council (BCP or Dorset). If neither applies to you, you're not alone, most paying homeowners don't qualify.
Is there a Dorset or BCP local solar grant scheme?
Local support runs through the Warm Homes: Local Grant, administered by BCP and Dorset councils, and is means-tested in the same way as the national schemes.
If I don't qualify for a grant, what do I actually get?
0% VAT on most residential installs (until 2027), a Smart Export Guarantee payment for the power you export, and finance if you want to spread the cost, all real, all available now, no means test.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee, and which tariff pays the most?
It's a payment from your energy supplier for the power your system exports back to the grid. Rates vary by supplier, we advise on the best fit for you at survey, though the application itself is with your supplier, not us.
How does solar finance work, and is it worth it vs a bank loan?
You can buy outright or spread the cost. If you want to look at finance we can introduce you to Phoenix Financial Consultants, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All finance is subject to status and credit checks. Plenty of customers find a home improvement loan from their own bank suits them better, so it is worth comparing both. We are not financial advisers, so that decision is yours to make.
Are the "free solar panels" adverts legit, or a catch?
They're usually pointing at the same means-tested ECO4-style schemes, genuinely free for the households that qualify, but not a general offer. If an ad implies solar is free for everyone, treat it with the same scepticism as any other "free" claim.
How do I get a personalised quote showing my payback with finance?
Get a free, no-pressure quote and we'll survey your roof, usage and tariff, then show you the real installed price with 0% VAT applied, your likely Smart Export Guarantee income, and, if you want it, what the numbers look like financed. No pressure to decide on the day, and no scripted follow-up calls.
Get your honest, no-pressure Dorset quote
Whatever your situation with grants, VAT or finance, we'll show you the real numbers before you commit.