FREE Solar
Panels Scotland

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Free Solar Panels Scotland

Envirohomes Renewables are Scotland’s leading solar panel installer. Our specialist team of solar panel installers have completed hundreds of solar panel installation jobs in Scotland. With glowing client testimonials and online reviews, our team has helped many households lower their carbon footprint and energy bills through state-of-the-art solar panel installation. 

Our team have all the necessary industry accreditations, including the coveted PAS 2030 Certification, which is recognised as the gold standard amongst energy efficiency installers.

We currently focus on providing fully funded solar panel installation through the Government’s ECO 4 grant, which can be utilised by low-income households on benefits. Our team will guide you through the ECO 4 grant application process and provide a full installation service for free.

Over the years, UK funding schemes have provided funding (or an interest-free loan) to homeowners seeking energy-efficient home improvements.

The ECO4 Scheme has a total of £4 billion in funding allocated to assist qualifying UK households to cover the expenses associated with adopting renewable energy technologies, like solar panels and heat pumps. The ECO programme aims to transition the UK’s fuel usage from traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, to cleaner alternatives.

Let’s take a closer look.

Are You Eligible For A Solar Panel Grant In Scotland?
(ECO4 Grant Eligibility)

The Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) scheme is the fourth instalment of a series of UK government initiatives that began in 2013. The ECO3 scheme ended in March 2022, and ECO4 is scheduled to continue until March 2026. The ECO4 scheme focuses on upgrading household heating systems and assisting with renewable energy technologies (such as free solar panels) in UK homes. This is part of a broader plan to reduce carbon emissions and help the UK achieve carbon-neutral standards by 2050. The scheme has already assisted over 2.4 million homes across the UK.

ECO4 Grant eligibility

Envirohomes Renewables helps eligible customers secure and install various home improvement upgrades through the government-funded ECO4 scheme upon successfully meeting all the relevant criteria. These criteria include:
  • An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower.
  • Low-income households of less than £19,720.
  • Homeowners, private tenants, or those on social housing benefits.
  • Individuals who receive benefits such as Child Benefits, Income Support, Housing Support etc.
  • Pensioners (over 60) who receive Pension Credit Benefits.
  • Properties that only have oil boilers, LPG boilers and electric boilers.
  • Properties that have no gas meters.

What Does The Grant Cover?

  • Renewable energy installations, such as free solar panels, solar photovoltaic (PV) battery systems and air source heat pumps

  • Loft insulation

  • Wall (and cavity wall) insulation

  • Central heating upgrades, such as new boilers, boiler replacements and heat pumps

  • Draught proofing

  • Energy-efficient lighting

  • Window insulation (double glazing only)

How Do Solar Panels Work?

  • Solar panel generation

    Through the PV process, solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. When the solar panel is exposed to the sun, the solar panel cells generate direct current (DC).

  • Inverter conversion

    DC electricity is then converted into alternating current (AC), which is the standard form of electricity used in most households.

  • Powering properties

    AC electricity generated by the solar panels is then used to power devices and appliances within the home. If your solar panel is not grid-tied or does not have a solar battery fitted, the surplus electricity is lost.

  • Solar battery

    In cases where solar panels are fitted with solar batteries, the excess energy is fed back into the grid or stored for later use. This excess electricity/energy is what charges the solar battery.

  • Using stored energy

    In times of higher electricity demand (usage), such as in the evenings or when solar panels do not generate enough power, the stored power in the solar battery is used. This allows you to rely on the stored energy rather than drawing from the energy grid.

What Are The Benefits
Of Using Solar Panels?

  • Reduced electricity/energy bills

  • Insurance against rising energy costs

  • Cheaper energy source

  • Less maintenance and upkeep

  • Return on investment

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Energy independence

  • Cashbacks available through
    The Smart Export Guarantee Scheme
    (SEG)

How Much Can I Save
With Solar Panels?

The Energy Savings Trust proposes that typically UK households with a 4.2 kW solar panel system can reduce their energy bill by £210 – £510 per year. This depends on several factors, such as property size, average consumption and living habits. Solar panels have the potential to reduce electricity bills by 15% – 20%.


Why Does The Scottish Government
Provide Grants For Solar Panels?

With increasing energy prices, Scotland is taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions, lower energy bills and transition to a more sustainable energy future. One of the key driving points to initiate this change is to provide free solar panel loans and grants to qualifying homeowners.

The Scottish government is encouraging households to utilise renewable energy systems, like free solar panels, to work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This is to curb the country’s reliance on fossil fuels – which are not environmentally friendly or sustainable – and eradicate fuel poverty for residents across the country.

By contributing to these combined green energy effects and providing funding/assistance for free solar panels, Scotland is paving the way for a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future.

Further considerations as to why the Scottish government provides grants for solar panel installations could be:

  • Reducing air pollution: As with contributing to a greener future, installing solar panels helps reduce air and water pollution. Unlike fossil fuel combustion, solar power generation does not release harmful pollutants – such as sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide – into the environment.

  • Job creation: The solar industry is growing in terms of manufacturing, research and installations. Government grants that support solar panel installation can stimulate job growth in the sector and strengthen the economy.

  • Independence: Investing in solar energy reduces the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. It also reduces a country’s vulnerability to fluctuations in the global energy market.

  • Energy access: Installing solar panels in remote or off-the-grid areas improves energy access to underserved communities. This also reduces the cost of laying electricity lines in these areas, as well as the required maintenance.

Do I Need Planning Permission?

In Scotland, for most home solar panel systems, you typically do not need planning permission prior to installation. However, this is based on the size, type and location of where the panels are to be installed.

It is best to check with your local planning officer to be sure, especially if your home is in a conservation area.

Here are a few general guidelines for installing solar panels in Scotland:

  • Solar panels should not be installed on any part of the external walls of a building.
  • Solar panels must not protrude more than 1 meter above the plane of a flat roof and should be placed 1 meter from the roof edge.
  • Solar panels must not be higher than the highest point of a roof (excluding the chimney).
  • Solar panels and solar PV equipment must be designed for easy removal.
If your solar panel installation does not comply with the above-mentioned points, planning permission is usually required.


Can You Still Earn Money
From Selling The Solar Energy Generated?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Scheme will pay homeowners who sell any surplus energy (extra electricity) back into the grid. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that homeowners can earn roughly £90 in cashback per annum from this scheme.

However, the SEG scheme only applies if you have one of the following renewable technologies onsite:

 

Solar PV panels

Wind turbines

Hydro systems

Heat pumps

Anaerobic digestion

Micro-CHP

FAQs

The average household in Scotland consumed about 3,740 kWh of power in the year 2021. Generally, a 5 kW solar panel installation will generate an average of 4,500 kWh of electricity per year.

Having these sized solar panels in Scotland usually costs between £6,000 and £7,000, as a ballpark figure. However, the exact cost can vary depending on factors such as house build and design, location, etc.

While solar panels have many advantages, they do have their drawbacks. These include the initial setup cost, intermittent power generation (i.e. cloudy days), the space that it requires and its difficulty to remove or take with you when moving properties.

Yes. Despite Scotland’s cold and cloudy weather, advancements in solar panel technology, supportive policies (i.e. solar panel grants) and climate concerns make solar panels worthwhile for Scottish homes and businesses.

Solar panels help reduce carbon emissions and energy costs. Scotland’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and evolving eco-friendly technologies make solar panels a smart and reliable choice.

Yes, solar panels can produce enough electricity to charge electric vehicles. However, this will depend on a few factors, such as the size of your solar PV system, your consumption habits, whether you have a solar battery and your electric vehicle.

The process for getting free solar panels in Scotland through the ECO4 scheme is relatively simple with Envirohomes Renewables. These are the steps involved:

  1. Check whether you are eligible to receive solar panels through the ECO4 scheme on our website.

  2. Should you be eligible, we will submit the grant application on your behalf.

  3. A qualified surveyor will assess your property to determine the solar panel system that would best suit your needs.

  4. Your free solar panels will be installed and you can start generating your own electricity.
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Registered office address: 12 Somerset Place, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7JT.
Company No: SC708370. VAT No:396823742