Whilst solar panel installation can be expensive to have installed, there are numerous ways to recoup some of the initial costs. Not only are there a number of tax benefits available to residents in Bristol and throughout the UK, but there are a number of different grants that can be claimed, as well as a number of schemes run by councils. All of these have to be applied for prior to accepting a quote to install solar panels though.
The 0% VAT Rate
Solar panels can now be supplied and installed in residential properties with 0% VAT. This includes the solar panels themselves, the inverter(s), the battery storage(s) if installed at the same time as the solar panels and the labour costs for the installation of all of the above items. Typical costs for domestic systems are around £6,000 / £9,000 so this can save several hundred pounds on top of the already very competitive rates for solar panel systems. The 0% VAT rate applies until March 2027.
ECO4 for Low Income Households
ECO4 funding for Solar Panels as part of a package of measures to improve the energy efficiency of a home is available through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme. ECO4 funding is available for homeowners on low income who receive certain benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support and Child Tax Credit. However, people on low income who do not claim benefits may also qualify through the Local Authority Flexible Eligibility scheme and Bristol City Council can refer people in these circumstances who are struggling with fuel costs and have a D, E, F or G EPC rating for their home.
Getting Paid for What You Export
This scheme does not provide any financial assistance towards the cost of the solar panels, however it does pay the homeowner for any electricity that they do not use themselves. The Smart Export Guarantee scheme requires suppliers to pay householders for the surplus electricity that they generate and export back to the grid. There are a number of different suppliers who are signed up to this scheme and pay different rates for export – it’s worth getting a number of quotes from different suppliers to see who can offer the best rate.
Solar Together Bristol
The Bristol scheme is known as Solar Together Bristol and runs in rounds throughout the year with the council supporting a group of householders to obtain the best price through group purchasing. The approved installers on the scheme then bid for the individual ‘lots’ of the group and the householders are offered the price of the lowest bid. Although registering your interest costs nothing and provides a useful benchmark against which to obtain other quotes, there is no obligation to accept any of the quotes obtained through the scheme.
Pairing Solar with Insulation
The Great British Insulation Scheme offers free loft insulation, cheap cavity wall insulation and even subsidized underfloor insulation to homeowners with a poor EPC rating and who are in council tax bands A to D. Householders on benefits also qualify. And while the Scheme is aimed at providing insulation, for homeowners looking to have solar panels installed then combining the two can offer great value for money as a well-insulated home will use less heat and therefore less electricity and therefore the electricity that your solar panels generate will stretch much further and reduce the payback period of your solar panels. Many ECO4 assessments highlight that a property has inadequate insulation and therefore it’s worth getting the assessment done and discussing the options with the ECO4 assessor for your home.
Help for Homes Off the Gas Grid
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) scheme is intended for low-income households with a poor EPC rating of D or below in homes off the gas grid, such as homes in rural areas around the Bristol outskirts including parts of South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Much like the ECO4 grants for insulation and home improvements, funding is distributed in batches to local councils and can run out before the scheme ends. It is therefore best to contact your local council for the latest information and to check your eligibility before the money is all spent.
Checking Eligibility Safely
Before you spend any money it’s worth getting a free and impartial assessment of what help you might be able to get. Look up Simple Energy Advice or contact your local authority’s energy team. Be wary of cold callers, even those that claim you’ve been “selected” to apply for a grant scheme, and which promise instant payment of grants after you’ve signed up. Such grants are applied for by registered installers or your local authority, not by strangers on your doorstep who promise instant assessment and payment of grants after a single day’s work.
Finding a Credible Installer
Once you have worked out the funding available to you for solar panel installation in Bristol, finding a credible installer is the next step. Look for solar panel installation companies that are MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified as this will ensure that they can complete the installation to the required safety standard and claim SEG payments on your behalf, as well as enable you to claim funding from most grants. Also check how long they have been trading for and check if they are a member of a consumer protection scheme such as RECC.
If you want Solar Panel Installation Bristol, Redbridge and Sons is a good place to start.
This is how to save time and money by getting things in order first. A simple phone call to your local council’s energy team to confirm all of the information is usually all that is required.
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