ECO4 Scheme: free solar panels for eligible households

ECO4 is the most significant solar scheme currently available in the UK. If you qualify, it can fund the complete cost of a solar panel installation — typically worth £5,000–£8,000 — at no cost to you. The scheme closes at the end of December 2026.

What is ECO4?

ECO4 stands for Energy Company Obligation 4. It is a government mandate, not a direct grant — Ofgem requires the UK's largest energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Octopus, OVO, Scottish Power, and others) to fund a set amount of energy improvements for eligible households each year. The suppliers pay for this through their operating costs, which is why ECO4 is sometimes described as “funded by energy suppliers.”

The scheme covers a wide range of home energy improvements: insulation, heating upgrades, and — where appropriate — solar PV systems. Solar accounts for a smaller proportion of ECO4 measures than insulation, but it is available and actively installed under the scheme.

The current phase (ECO4) runs until 31 December 2026. Its successor, the Warm Homes Plan, is expected to launch in January 2027.

Who qualifies?

Eligibility has two components — you generally need to meet both:

1. Income or benefit threshold

You qualify on income grounds if your household earns under £31,000 per year.

Alternatively, you qualify automatically if anyone in your household receives one of these qualifying benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
• Child Tax Credit (with income under £31,000)
• Working Tax Credit (with income under £31,000)
• Housing Benefit

2. Property EPC rating

Your property also needs to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. Properties already rated A, B, or C are not eligible — the scheme is targeted at homes with the most to gain from energy improvements.

If you do not know your EPC rating, you can check it free on the government's EPC register. If your property is not yet rated or the certificate is very old, an installer or assessor can arrange a new assessment.

ECO4 Flex (Local Authority Referrals)

A portion of ECO4 funding — called ECO4 Flex — can be accessed via local authority referrals. Councils can identify eligible households based on local criteria, which may include households not receiving the above benefits but still considered fuel-poor. It is worth contacting your local authority if you are borderline on the standard criteria.

What does ECO4 cover?

For solar specifically, a typical ECO4-funded installation includes:

• Solar PV panels (usually 3–5kWp capacity for a standard home)
• A string or hybrid inverter
• All installation labour
• Scaffolding
• MCS certification — required for Smart Export Guarantee registration
• DNO notification

Whether a battery is included depends on the installer and the specific ECO4 measure being installed. Battery storage is more commonly funded under the newer Warm Homes: Local Grant pilot than under ECO4. Do not assume a battery is included — confirm in writing with your installer.

Do you own the panels?

Yes. Under ECO4, the panels installed on your home become your property. This is important for two reasons:

• Smart Export Guarantee: Because you own the panels, you can register with an energy supplier to receive SEG payments for surplus electricity you export to the grid. This adds to your long-term savings.
• No lease complications: Leased solar arrangements (where a third party owns the panels on your roof) can create problems when remortgaging. Owned solar does not have this issue.

How to apply

There is no single central application portal for ECO4. The main routes are:

1. Contact your energy supplier: Most major suppliers have an ECO4 page and can check your eligibility. Some have their own installer networks; others refer you to approved third parties.
2. Use Simple Energy Advice (SEA):The government's energy efficiency advice service can check eligibility and refer you to a local ECO4 installer.
3. Contact a registered ECO4 installer directly: Look for companies that are MCS certified and listed on the TrustMark register, which are the two quality marks used for ECO4 work.
4. Via your local authority (ECO4 Flex route — see above).

Be wary of cold callers claiming to offer free solar under ECO4. Legitimate installers do use telephone outreach, but any legitimate process will include a formal eligibility check and written documentation before any installation begins.

What happens after ECO4 closes?

ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026. There is no ECO5 planned. The confirmed successor is the Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion programme expected to launch in January 2027. The exact eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Plan have not been finalised as of mid-2026, but the likely target groups are broadly similar to ECO4 plus social housing residents and private renters.

If you qualify for ECO4 now, acting before December 2026 is advisable rather than waiting to see what the Warm Homes Plan offers. There is no guarantee the successor will have more generous terms.

Frequently asked questions