The Warm Homes Plan Explained for Solar and Batteries

Short answer: the Warm Homes Plan, published by the government on 21 January 2026, is a policy document. It is not a single grant you apply for. For solar panels and batteries it matters through two schemes that you can actually use: the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which funds upgrades for eligible low-income households in England through councils, and the Warm Homes Loan Scheme, which is a lender's loan available UK-wide. We read the GOV.UK pages on 8 October 2026.

What the plan is

GOV.UK lists the Warm Homes Plan as published on 21 January 2026 and updated on 18 March 2026, and describes it as setting out how the government will help people save on energy bills and upgrade the housing stock (GOV.UK: Warm Homes Plan). The plan brings together several programmes. For anyone considering a battery, three parts matter: grants for low-income households, consumer loans and quality protections.

The parts that affect solar and batteries

Warm Homes: Local Grant

This is the grant route. Councils in England deliver it. The home must be privately owned and have an EPC rating of D to G, and the household must meet one of the income routes (the lowest two income deciles by postcode, a means-tested benefit, or a gross household income of £36,000 or less) (GOV.UK). The July 2026 policy guidance allows a battery only where it complements existing or new solar PV and drives bill savings. The cost caps are averages across a council's project, not a sum any household can claim (DESNZ guidance). The plan also sets out an intention to merge this grant with the social housing scheme into a single low-income capital scheme from 2027/28, so check for changes after that date.

Warm Homes Loan Scheme

This is the loan route, for people who can borrow and repay. According to the scheme rules (September 2026):

• loans are made by FCA-authorised lenders approved by DESNZ, and there is no income threshold;
• any UK domestic property is in scope, for owner-occupiers and private landlords;
• the caps include £15,000 for a battery, standalone or with solar, and £15,000 for solar PV;
• government pays lenders up to 20% of the loan, which they must pass on by lowering the nominal interest rate;
• the product and installer must be MCS-certified (DESNZ scheme rules).

The plan's aim is described as low- or no-interest loans, but the rules do not promise a zero rate. Expect rates to vary by lender. The rules describe an initial consumer launch phase from September 2026 and a second lender window later in 2026, so the number of lenders will change.

ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme

The plan and GOV.UK confirm that ECO4 was extended and runs to 31 December 2026, and that the Great British Insulation Scheme ended on 31 March 2026 (GOV.UK ECO4 extension). A battery is not a scored ECO4 measure. See our ECO4 guide.

Consumer protection and standards

The plan states an intention to overhaul the system of standards and protections for solar and battery installations. We could not find the detailed rules, so for now rely on what exists: MCS certification and your own checks. See how to check an installer.

What it means in practice

The plan does not replace the need to check eligibility. The funding overview and the eligibility check are a sensible starting point, and the 2026 guide lists what is open and what has closed.

Frequently asked questions