Grant support for business solar has narrowed sharply since 2024. Here's exactly what's open, what's closed, and what actually funds a system in 2026. Start with a free assessment to see what applies to you.
Grant eligibility depends on your building type and sector
Getting access to business grants can feel like a complicated process, especially with schemes opening and closing as often as they do.
Business Solar UK assesses your bills, your roof and your eligibility for any live funding, and our installation partner Solar4Business surveys, designs and installs the system. Where the fully funded PPA route suits your business, our funding partner INICIO pays for the system, which Solar4Business installs, and its maintenance is covered under the agreement, in exchange for you buying the electricity it generates.
Get your free solar assessment with us today, and we'll tell you plainly which funding routes are actually open to you, not just which ones exist on paper.
In short, no, not through a grant. There is no general scheme that covers the full cost of an ordinary commercial rooftop system, and the main fund that historically came closest, the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, has closed.
What is realistic for most businesses is £0 upfront through a fully funded power purchase agreement: our funding partner INICIO pays for the system, Solar4Business installs it, and its maintenance is covered under the agreement, and you buy the electricity it generates at an agreed rate, without owning the panels yourself.
Covering part of the cost through tax relief, rather than a grant, is a very real possibility, and it's worth knowing where to look.
There are a few different routes open to a business today, though the list has changed a lot since this scheme landscape was last settled:
For full details on what applies to your business, get your free solar assessment with us, and we'll check the live position for your site.
Closed The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) was a national, government-led grant scheme aimed at energy-intensive industrial processes, supporting technologies including solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps and wind turbines to cut emissions and energy costs.
The IETF is now closed, with no successor scheme currently open. It was never aimed at ordinary commercial rooftop solar, so most businesses considering a standard system were unlikely to qualify even while it was running.
If your business runs genuinely energy-intensive industrial processes, ask your assessment whether any current government scheme applies; for a typical commercial roof, the realistic routes are tax relief, SEG income and, where suitable, a fully funded PPA.
| Scheme | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Industrial Energy Transformation Fund | Closed, no successor |
| ECO4 / Great British Insulation Scheme | Closed 31 Mar 2026, domestic only |
| UK Shared Prosperity Fund local grants | Closed to new applications 31 Mar 2026 |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Open, systems up to 5MW |
| Annual Investment Allowance / 50% FYA | Open, permanent tax relief |
Confirm your own eligibility before relying on any figure; scheme rules change.
If you don't qualify for a grant, and most businesses today won't, these are the routes that genuinely help fund business solar:
Working with Business Solar UK saves you time and money, and gets you a clear answer on which funding routes genuinely apply to your business. Get your free solar assessment with us today, and we'll put you in touch with Solar4Business, who can advise further on any grants or tax relief you may be entitled to.
We provide bespoke system designs for every business, based upon your energy usage and rooftop availability. To give you an idea of the savings and cost of a system, below are some of our common system sizes.
For office buildings
25 yearsPays back in 6.2 yrs
For warehouse buildings
25 yearsPays back in 6.0 yrs
For manufacturing plants
25 yearsPays back in 5.8 yrs
For distribution centres
25 yearsPays back in 5.7 yrs
Illustrative examples, not live quotations. Equipment, warranties and prices are confirmed in your proposal. All savings are based upon a solar generation yield of 850kWh/kWp installed per annum, with usage of 71.43% of solar energy generated, assuming a 24p/kWh electricity import rate (close to the DESNZ Q1 2026 UK non-domestic average of 24.14p/kWh). Savings may change year on year dependent upon weather conditions, energy prices and system degradation in line with warrantied output.
Solar PV brands featured in our system examples
The right route depends on your cash position, your lease and how much power you use in daylight. Your free assessment models each one against your own bills, starting with what you can save before a single panel goes up.
Review your electricity tariff whilst planning your solar installation
Best for: Any business on an out-of-contract or uncompetitive tariff
Ask about this route
Pay upfront, keep every pound of the saving
Best for: Profitable businesses with cash or an existing facility, and a long lease or freehold
Ask about this route
Spread the cost, with ownership at the end of the agreement
Best for: Businesses that want ownership without tying up working capital
Ask about this route
Fully funded. You just buy cheaper electricity
Best for: Sites with a large roof and daytime demand that want savings with no capital or maintenance
Ask about this routeFinance and fully funded options are subject to eligibility, survey and contract terms. Savings, repayments and tax relief depend on your circumstances.
When it comes to commercial solar, there are a few ways to purchase your system. We’ll help to guide you through your options.
Using the Annual Investment Allowance, you can deduct the cost of your system against corporation tax.
Spread the cost with asset financing and use your bill savings to pay off your annual loan repayments.
Purchase your system outright, for the best return on investment.
Or pay nothing upfront with a solar power purchase agreement. See all four ways to pay.
Get a forecast based on your building, tariff and daytime electricity use.
We will check if you qualify for any incentives or grants.
Your assessment uses your postcode to check local solar yield, planning rules and the grid connection.
Prefer to talk first? Call 0113 834 0644 or email [email protected].
Your installation is managed by Solar4BusinessInstallation services described below are delivered by our partner Solar4Business.
Our expert in-house team will advise you on how to best save money through a bespoke business solar installation.
A few questions about your business and your solar energy needs.
A solar package tailored to you, with every way to pay, including tax relief, modelled.
Solar4Business surveys and installs your system, and we confirm any funding you qualify for.
You start saving on energy bills from the day your system is switched on.
See the range of buildings featured in Solar4Business’s published installation projects, from manufacturing sites to schools.
Commercial solar at industrial scale. A large manufacturing roof put to work generating electricity on site.
Explore the project
Rooftop generation alongside the demands of a busy manufacturing operation.
Explore the project
Using school roof space to generate power where it is needed throughout the day.
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A bespoke rooftop installation designed around a business headquarters.
Explore the projectBusiness Solar UK helps you assess your options and introduces you to Solar4Business. Their team surveys your premises, designs the system and manages the installation.
Solar4Business displays the accreditation marks below on its website. Ask for the current certificates, the contracting company’s details and the warranties that apply to your proposed installation.
Founder and CEO, Pharaoh Capital. Founder of Solar4Business and INICIO.
Over ten years in the energy sector. Grant founded Solar4Business, who install every Business Solar UK system, and INICIO, which funds commercial solar with no upfront cost. Institute of Directors Young Director of the Year, 2020.
Reviews are of Solar4Business, who carry out every installation for Business Solar UK. Rating as at 22 September 2026.
"All went well with the initial enquiry, report draft and install. We were kept up to date with install dates and the guys on site were tidy and professional... There has been a marked reduction in our electricity costs which was the reason for the install."
"Steve and his team were extremely professional, installing over 900 panels for our Academy."
"We have a commercial property and 48 solar panels have been fitted. The team of installers were extremely professional and helpful."
"A great installation. Steve and the team did a great job. Would not hesitate to recommend this company."
Brands using solar power
Not a general open one. The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s local low-carbon grants have both closed. What’s live for most businesses is tax relief (the Annual Investment Allowance and 50% first-year allowance) and the Smart Export Guarantee. Schools and NHS sites have a separate route through Great British Energy, and farms can sometimes access Defra’s Farming Investment Fund when a round is open. Your free assessment checks what applies at your postcode.
No. The IETF has closed, with no direct successor. It was aimed at energy-intensive industrial processes, not ordinary commercial rooftop solar, so most businesses were never eligible for it.
Lower energy bills, reduced carbon emissions, a small extra income through the Smart Export Guarantee, greater energy independence and security, and a stronger brand reputation. Get your free solar assessment to see what it means for your business specifically.
No. ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme (both closing 31 March 2026) support domestic households in fuel poverty with poor energy performance, not businesses. Even a small business operating from a poorly rated building will not qualify.
Not technically a grant, but it is a live source of income. The Smart Export Guarantee lets both homeowners and businesses sell surplus solar electricity back to their supplier, for systems up to 5MW. Installations up to 50kW need MCS (or equivalent) certification to qualify.
Yes, on suitable sites. With a fully funded power purchase agreement, our funding partner INICIO pays for the system, which Solar4Business installs. Its maintenance is covered under the agreement, and you buy the electricity it generates at an agreed rate, with no capital outlay from you.
All businesses, from small firms to large corporations, can benefit from switching now. The UK is working towards Net Zero by 2050, and pressure on larger businesses to move to renewable energy is already real. Switching early can be a smart commercial decision ahead of that pressure reaching smaller firms.
Save massively on your electricity bills when you invest in solar.
