With rising energy prices impacting on households in Wales, people are considering alternative ways of heating their home which could save them money for the foreseeable future. Solar panels are one such option. However, the costs of installing solar can be quite high and this is often reason enough to put many people off. Thanks to grants for solar installation in Wales, under the government-backed ECO4 scheme, solar panels could become a much more affordable option for many households
How can the ECO4 scheme help households in Wales get solar panels?
Grants are available to qualifying households in Wales to help them install solar panels which will boost the energy efficiency of their home and have a positive impact on their energy bills. Under the latest iteration of the ECO scheme, those on benefits or low income households (below £31,000) could be eligible for solar funding.
Under ECO4, half of the measures will be provided through LA Flex, meaning that those who are classed as low income, but not in receipt of benefits (who previously would have been excluded from the scheme), are now eligible. The focus of the scheme is to help improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of properties in the category D to G through the installation of measures like solar panels.
What solar panel grants and assistance are available in Wales?
Grants are available to Welsh households under the government-backed ECO4 scheme. The funding comes from an obligation placed by the government on the largest energy companies to contribute to carbon reducing initiatives and help households that are considered likely to struggle with the cost of heating their homes.
Those who install solar panels will see an improvement in the EPC band of their home. Homes with regular solar setups can also benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which provides electricity-producing households to receive payments for any excess energy they export to the national grid.
Are you able to get a solar panel grant in Wales with ECO4 funding?
The ECO scheme is soon due to transition from ECO3 to ECO4, and this is due to run until 2026. Under this government-backed scheme you could potentially qualify to have solar panels fitted and have it part or fully funded.
The funding for the scheme comes from the largest energy suppliers including Npower, E. ON, British Gas, SSE, EDF, and Scottish Power. They are required to provide the grant funding that will help households boost their EPC and lower their energy bills
How do people in Wales qualify for free solar panels?
To qualify for solar assistance under ECO4, you should be in receipt of one or more of the benefits listed below.
To qualify for the ECO4 scheme and receive solar panel grant funding, you should be claiming one or more of the benefits below.
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support (IS)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit (WTC)
- Child Tax Credits (CTC)
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Housing Benefit (new qualifying benefit for ECO4)
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (new qualifying benefit for ECO4)
You could also be eligible if your household income is under the set threshold of £31,000. Your property should have a low EPC rating (D or lower) in order to be considered for solar grant funding.
Other funding may be available under the Nest Scheme which aims to help those living in deprived areas across Wales.
To apply for a solar panel grant in Wales visit https://solar-grants.co.uk/solar-panel-grants-wales/ today and fill out their quick form to check your eligibility.