The ECO4 scheme can pay for solar panels in full for eligible low-income households, with no upfront cost. It's an obligation the government places on large energy suppliers, not a grant you apply for directly, and it runs until 31 December 2026.
If you're on certain benefits and your home has a low energy efficiency rating, you may qualify. Here's how it works.
What is the ECO4 scheme?
ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation, phase 4) requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. It runs from April 2022 to 31 December 2026, after the scheme was extended from its original March 2026 end date (source: Ofgem, The Independent).
The aim is to cut bills for vulnerable households, reduce fuel poverty and lower carbon emissions. Measures can include insulation, heating upgrades and, in the right circumstances, solar panels.
Can you really get free solar panels through ECO4?
Yes, for eligible households the panels can be fully funded with no upfront cost. Because suppliers fund the work to meet a legal obligation, there's no loan, no credit check and no monthly repayment for the household.
It isn't automatic, though. ECO4 prioritises the measures that will improve a home's energy rating most cost-effectively, so insulation often comes first. Whether solar is included depends on your property's assessment.
Who is eligible for ECO4?
Eligibility has two parts: your property and your household.
Property requirements
- An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G
- A roof and structure suitable for the measure being installed
- Adequate, reasonably unshaded roof space for solar
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance
- Solar panels
- Inverter and mounting
- Electrical connections and safety equipment
- Commissioning, certification and handover
- Check your benefits and EPC. You can find your EPC rating on the government register.
- Get an eligibility assessment. We can check whether you qualify, including the LA Flex route.
- Home survey. A qualified assessor checks roof suitability and your home's energy needs.
- Installation. If approved, a typical solar install is completed in one to two days.
- Solar panel cost UK 2026
- How many solar panels do I need?
- Best Smart Export Guarantee tariffs
- Ofgem, Energy Company Obligation (ECO): official scheme page.
- The Independent, ECO4 eligibility 2026: who qualifies for free solar panels, insulation and heating upgrades.
- Urban Big Data Centre, University of Glasgow: how do solar panels affect property prices in the UK?.
Household requirements
You may qualify if someone in the home receives one of these benefits:
LA Flex: the wider route
Even if you're not on those benefits, your local council can refer you under ECO4 Flex (LA Flexible Eligibility). This covers households on lower incomes or with health conditions made worse by a cold home. Criteria vary by council, so it's worth checking locally.
What's included in an ECO4 solar installation?
A funded installation is a full, working system fitted by an MCS-certified installer:
Because the work must be MCS certified, the system also qualifies for the Smart Export Guarantee, so you can be paid for electricity you export.
How to apply for ECO4
How much could ECO4 solar panels save you?
A funded system removes the upfront cost entirely, and you then use free electricity generated on your roof during the day. Actual bill savings depend on your usage, your system's generation and energy prices at the time, so we won't quote a fixed figure. As a rough guide, a typical home offsets a meaningful share of its daytime electricity use, with more saved if you're home in the daytime or add a battery.
Solar can also affect property value. Research by the Urban Big Data Centre at the University of Glasgow found homes with solar panels command roughly a 6-7% premium, though any uplift varies by property and local market.
Is ECO4 genuine, or too good to be true?
It's genuine. ECO4 is a government scheme funded by energy companies as part of their legal obligations, and reputable installers don't charge eligible households for the funded measures. Be wary of anyone asking for upfront payment or pressuring you to sign on the spot.
Apply before the scheme ends
ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, and funding is limited and allocated as applications come in. If you think you might qualify, it's worth checking sooner rather than later.
Call us on 0330 133 2497 or request a free eligibility check. We're MCS certified and will tell you honestly whether ECO4, or another route, is the right fit for your home.