Warm Homes Loan Scheme 2026: Solar Panels & Battery Storage
Checked against GOV.UK on .
Illustrative image: the Treasury budget box.
The short version
- Government backed loans for solar panels and batteries, offered by lenders.
- Caps: £15,000 for solar PV and £15,000 for a battery.
- Rates are set by each lender. 0% is not guaranteed.
- No participating lenders named on GOV.UK yet.
What is the Warm Homes Loan Scheme?
It is part of the government's wider Warm Homes Plan. The government gives participating lenders a grant of up to 20% of each loan. Lenders must use it to offer you a lower interest rate.
Warm Homes Plan, Local Grant and Loan Scheme
- Warm Homes Plan: the overall government programme. Read it on GOV.UK.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant: free upgrades for eligible low income households in England, run by councils. Check eligibility.
- Warm Homes Loan Scheme: a loan you repay, open to homeowners who can borrow. Not a grant.
Interest free solar panel loans: how rates could work
The subsidy is designed to lower a lender's normal rate. Some lenders may offer low or 0% interest solar panels, but none is promised. Approval depends on the lender's credit and affordability checks.
Eligible technologies and loan caps
- New roof mounted solar panels, including adding to an existing system: up to £15,000.
- Battery storage, standalone or with solar: up to £15,000.
- An EV charger only as part of a solar or battery install.
- Not covered: replacement roofing, structural work, insulation.
Caps include scaffolding and grid connection. The government can change caps with 30 days notice.
Warm Homes Loan Scheme eligibility
Owner occupiers and private landlords of homes anywhere in the UK. There is no income threshold. Lenders may add their own criteria, such as an Energy Performance Certificate.
How to apply
You apply through a participating lender, not the government and not your installer. Lenders check the quote and the installation before and after the work.
Why MCS certification matters
Scheme loans require an installer who holds MCS certification for that technology, fitting an MCS listed product. Ask any installer to show their current certificate for solar and battery work.
What to prepare
- Recent electricity bills and annual usage.
- An itemised quote, with any roof work listed separately.
- Your Energy Performance Certificate, if you have one.
- Proof you own the home.
Latest launch status
The rules set a consumer launch phase from September 2026. Lender applications for the first round closed on 29 July 2026. A second lender window is expected late 2026. See the official Scheme Rules.
How Pinnacle can help in Portsmouth and Hampshire
We quote for solar panels and battery storage across Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Waterlooville and Southampton. Our quotes are itemised, so they are ready for lender checks. We are an installer, not a lender, broker or scheme partner.
Interested in solar panels or battery storage under the Warm Homes Plan?
Request a quotation for your Portsmouth or Hampshire home. This is not a loan application and does not guarantee access to the scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Warm Homes Loan Scheme open yet?
The rules describe a consumer launch phase from September 2026. As of 25 October 2026, GOV.UK has not named participating lenders. Check GOV.UK for the latest status.
Are the loans 0% interest?
Not necessarily. The government pays lenders a grant of up to 20% of each loan to lower the rate. Each lender sets its own rate, so it may or may not be 0%.
How much can I borrow for solar panels and a battery?
Current rules cap loans at £15,000 for solar PV and £15,000 for battery storage. Scaffolding and grid connection count within the cap.
Who is eligible?
Owner occupiers and private landlords of UK homes. There is no income limit, but lenders run their own credit and affordability checks.
Is this a grant?
No. You borrow the money and repay it. The grant goes to the lender to reduce your interest rate.
Does it cover roof repairs or insulation?
No. Replacement roofing, structural work and insulation are not covered. An EV charger is only covered as part of a solar or battery installation.
Does sending an enquiry apply for the loan?
No. An enquiry asks us for an installation quote only. Loans are applied for through participating lenders.
Information only, not financial advice. Pinnacle Energy Group does not offer credit. Sources: Warm Homes Loan Scheme Rules (September 2026), Warm Homes Plan.