Can I Get a Government Loan for Solar Panels in 2026? | Warm Homes Plan

If you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels but the upfront cost has stopped you, you’re not alone. One of the biggest changes in the UK government’s Warm Homes Plan is the introduction of government-backed low‑interest and zero‑interest loans designed to help homeowners pay for upgrades like solar panels and home batteries.

Published in January 2026, the Plan makes it clear that solar is no longer seen as a niche or luxury upgrade. Instead, it is positioned as a practical way for households to cut energy bills, reduce reliance on the grid, and protect themselves from future energy price rises.

What the government is offering

Under the Warm Homes Plan, the government has committed £2 billion of public funding to support a new national consumer loan offer. This funding is intended to back low‑interest and zero‑interest loans for home energy upgrades, with solar panels specifically named as one of the technologies the scheme is designed to support.

The reason for this approach is simple. While the cost of solar panels has fallen, the upfront price is still one of the main reasons homeowners delay installing them. By supporting loans with much lower interest rates than standard consumer credit, the government aims to remove that barrier and allow more households to act sooner.

Rooftop solar is described in the Plan as one of the fastest ways to reduce household energy bills, because it allows homeowners to generate their own electricity rather than buying it all from the grid.

How you can get it

The solar loan offer is designed to be widely available, not limited to a small group of households. It sits alongside grant funding for low‑income households, but is aimed at the much larger number of homeowners who do not qualify for grants yet still find upfront costs challenging.

These loans will be delivered through a wider financial structure known as the Warm Homes Fund. Within this fund, the government has allocated £1.7 billion specifically for low‑ and zero‑interest consumer loans, covering technologies such as solar panels and home battery storage.

In practical terms, this means the loan would be used to cover the cost of installing solar panels (and potentially a battery), with repayments spread over time. While the Warm Homes Plan confirms the funding and intent, the exact application process, eligibility rules and delivery partners will be confirmed as the scheme is rolled out.

What it means for you

For homeowners, this changes solar from a large upfront purchase into a monthly affordability decision.

A government‑backed low‑interest loan could allow you to install solar panels without paying everything upfront, spread the cost into manageable monthly repayments, and start reducing your electricity bills at the same time by using the power you generate on your own roof.

The Warm Homes Plan also highlights the benefits of combining solar panels with home battery storage. A battery allows you to store the electricity you generate during the day and use it later in the evening, reducing the amount of electricity you need to buy at peak prices.

Looking longer‑term, the government’s ambition is to see solar installed on the roofs of up to 3 million additional homes by 2030. As solar becomes more common, installation costs tend to fall, supply chains strengthen, and finance options improve, all of which benefits homeowners considering solar in the coming years.

Can I get a government loan for solar panels in 2026?

Based on the Warm Homes Plan published in January 2026, the answer is yes, in principle. The government has confirmed that it is backing a new low‑ and zero‑interest consumer loan offer intended to support solar panel installations and related technologies such as home batteries.

What the Plan clearly confirms is that the funding is in place, solar is an eligible technology, and the policy direction is to make this type of finance widely available. What will be finalised as the scheme rolls out are the precise eligibility criteria, how homeowners apply, which lenders deliver the loans, and when applications officially open.

Frequently asked questions about government solar loans

1. Can I get a government loan for solar panels in 2026?

Yes. The Warm Homes Plan confirms that the government is backing a new low‑ and zero‑interest loan offer intended to help homeowners fund solar panel installations, subject to final rollout details fileciteturn0file0.

2. Is this a loan or a grant?

This is a loan, not a grant. Unlike grants, the money must be repaid, but the interest rates are intended to be much lower than standard consumer credit.

3. Will the loan cover the full cost of solar panels?

The intention is for the loan to cover the upfront cost of installing solar panels. Final limits and terms will depend on how the scheme is delivered.

4. Can I include a battery with my solar panels?

Yes. The Warm Homes Plan specifically links solar panels with home battery storage, and batteries are included within the technologies the loans are designed to support fileciteturn0file0.

5. Who is the loan aimed at?

The loan is aimed at homeowners who do not qualify for low‑income grants but still find the upfront cost of solar difficult to manage.

6. Will this loan be available everywhere in the UK?

The Plan confirms availability in England and Wales. Details for devolved nations may vary depending on local delivery arrangements

7. When can I apply for a government solar loan?

The Warm Homes Plan confirms the funding and policy direction, but application timelines will be confirmed as the scheme is rolled out.

8. Will my energy bill savings help cover the loan repayments?

That is the intention. By generating your own electricity, solar panels can reduce your electricity bills, helping offset monthly loan repayments.

9. Is this different from existing solar finance products?

Yes. These loans are government‑backed, which allows them to be offered at lower interest rates than most commercial solar finance products.

10. Is now a good time to start planning solar?

Yes. Understanding your roof, energy use and potential savings now puts you in a strong position to take advantage of government‑backed finance when applications open.

Final thoughts

The Warm Homes Plan signals a clear shift in how the government expects households to pay for solar. By backing low‑interest loans, solar panels are being positioned as a mainstream home upgrade rather than a luxury purchase.

If you’re considering solar, the most useful next step is understanding what system size suits your home and what level of savings it could realistically deliver. From there, it becomes much easier to see how a government‑backed loan could make solar affordable on a month‑to‑month basis.

This article is based on the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan (January 2026) You can download the official government document here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan