For businesses · 2026

Business energy grants 2026: every grant, tax break and loan open to UK businesses

Running a business, farm, school or charity? Below is every energy grant, loan and tax break we can verify for UK organisations in 2026, what has closed, and the fastest way to get commercial solar, batteries, EV charging or heat pumps quoted by one suitable installer. We're an independent guide, not the government's Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk).

Updated 28 October 2026 · Independent guide, not the government's Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk) · Checked against GOV.UK, Ofgem and scheme sources

Get a free business energy quote →See every grant that's open
£500Per EV socket, Workplace Charging Scheme (to 31 Mar 2027)
£7,500Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grant for smaller business buildings
£1mAnnual Investment Allowance: write off solar spend in year one
£0Added to your rateable value by on-site solar, to 2035 (England)
Business, farm, school or charity? You're in the right place. Looking for grants for your home instead? Homeowner energy grants →

Every business energy grant, loan and tax break in 2026

Checked against GOV.UK, Ofgem, legislation.gov.uk and the scheme administrators on 28 October 2026. Open means you can apply or claim today.

SchemeWhat you getWho can use itStatus
Workplace Charging SchemeUp to £500 per socket, max 75% of cost, up to 40 socketsBusinesses, charities, public sectorOpen until 31 March 2027 (final year)
WCS for state-funded educationUp to £2,000 per socket, max 75% of costState schools, academies, collegesOpen until 31 March 2027
Boiler Upgrade Scheme£7,500 off an air or ground source heat pump; +£1,500 until March 2027 if the building is heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connectionHomes and smaller business buildings: systems up to 45kWth, or 70kWth with more than one heat pump (England and Wales)Open, extended to 2030
Annual Investment Allowance100% tax deduction on qualifying plant, up to £1 million a year, solar includedMost businessesOpen
50% first-year allowanceHalf the cost of special-rate assets (such as solar panels) deducted in year oneCompaniesOpen
Business rates exemptionOn-site solar, storage where the power stored is mainly renewable, and plant that stores, transforms or transmits power to EV chargepoints, left out of rateable valueNon-domestic ratepayers (England; Wales and Scotland have equivalents)Open until 1 April 2035
Smart Export GuaranteePaid for the solar you export (supplier-set rate, always above zero)Systems up to 5MW in Great BritainOpen
0% VAT on energy-saving materialsNo VAT on solar, batteries and heat pumpsResidential, and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose. Ordinary business premises pay 20%Open until 31 March 2027, then 5%
Business Energy Scotland SME Loan£1,000 to £130,000 interest-free, plus cashback up to £20,000 (efficiency) or £10,000 (heat pumps)Scottish SMEs (under 250 staff)Open, but no new solar PV applications
Wales Green Business Loan Scheme£1,000 to £1.5 million over up to 15 years at a discounted rate; energy audit grant up to £10,000Welsh businesses trading 2+ yearsOpen
The government's Great British Energy Community Fund (gbe.gov.uk, not us)Grants for community-owned clean energy, up to £3 million for capital (no more than 50% of capital costs)Incorporated community organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for projects at least 50% community ownedOpen until 12 November 2026, 11:55pm (first window)
Public Sector Decarbonisation SchemeGrants for public-sector heat and efficiency projectsPublic bodiesClosed (Phase 4 closed November 2024; no new phase announced)
EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleetsUp to £15,000 per site for SMEsSMEsClosed 31 March 2026
Commercial landlord chargepoint grantChargepoint grant for commercial landlordsCommercial landlordsClosed 31 March 2026
Improving Farm Productivity (solar PV)£15,000 to £100,000 towards farm solar PV systems, including solar batteriesFarmers in EnglandClosed
UK Shared Prosperity Fund local grantsCouncil and growth hub business decarbonisation grantsLocal SMEsEnded: no UKSPF funding for activity after 30 September 2026

The money most businesses miss: the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance and the business rates exemption often cut more off the real cost of commercial solar than any grant ever did. Ask your accountant, then get the system quoted.

The short answer

Is there a national business energy grant?There is no single national grant that pays for business solar, batteries or efficiency upgrades in England. The money comes from tax allowances, the business rates exemption, export payments, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Workplace Charging Scheme and local or sector funds.
EV charging grant (up to £20,000)The Workplace Charging Scheme pays up to £500 per socket (it went up from £350 on 1 April 2026), capped at 75% of costs, for up to 40 sockets across all your sites. That's up to £20,000. Funding runs until 31 March 2027, its final year.
Heat pumpsThe Boiler Upgrade Scheme isn't just for homes. It pays £7,500 towards an air or ground source heat pump in a small non-domestic building, for systems up to 45kWth (70kWth with more than one heat pump). Until March 2027, a building heated by oil or LPG with no mains gas connection can get an extra £1,500, so £9,000 in total. The scheme now runs to 2030.
Biggest money-saverSolar panels are special-rate plant for tax. The Annual Investment Allowance (£1 million a year) can write off the cost in year one. Above that, companies can claim the 50% first-year allowance.
Business ratesIn England, on-site solar, and battery storage that mainly stores renewable power, are left out of your rateable value until 1 April 2035, so adding panels doesn't push up your business rates. Wales and Scotland have similar exemptions to 2035.
LandlordsSince 1 April 2023 you can't keep letting a commercial property in England or Wales rated below EPC E unless you register an exemption. In June 2026 the government dropped the planned EPC C by 2027 step. It now proposes EPC B from 2031 for buildings over 1,000 square metres, where cost-effective.

What do you want to install?

Commercial solar panelsCosts per kW, payback, tax breaks and planning for business roofs.Solar for business → Battery storageStore export-limited solar and cut peak-time costs.Commercial batteries → EV chargingStaff, fleet and visitor chargers, plus the £500-a-socket grant.Business EV charging → Heat pumps£7,500 off for smaller business buildings, and what to do above 45kW.Commercial heat pumps → Solar carportsPut your car park to work, with new permitted development rights.Solar carports → No upfront costSolar PPAs, leases and rent-a-roof deals explained honestly.PPA and leasing →

Energy grants and savings by sector

Warehouses & logisticsHuge roofs, export limits and fleet charging.Warehouses → FactoriesHigh daytime load means the fastest solar paybacks.Factories → FarmsBarns, dairies, cold stores and what farm grants are left.Farms → SchoolsFunding routes, the £2,000-a-socket EV grant and term-time loads.Schools → OfficesLandlord consent, green leases and air-con loads.Offices → Charities & churches0% VAT on qualifying buildings and community funding.Charities → Small businessesShops, cafés, clinics and workshops.Small business → Commercial landlordsMEES: EPC E now, EPC B from 2031 for big buildings.MEES rules →

Can a business get free solar panels or a free heat pump?

Not from a government grant. Free installs are a homeowner idea that doesn't carry over to business premises. Three routes do get you close to zero upfront cost:

  • Third-party-funded solar (PPA or lease). A funder installs and owns the panels, and you buy the power below your grid price. It suits large roofs and long occupancy. How solar PPAs work.
  • Interest-free or discounted loans. Scotland's SME Loan (interest-free, with cashback, but no solar PV right now) and Wales's Green Business Loan Scheme spread the cost.
  • Grant plus tax relief. On a heat pump, the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant plus capital allowances on the rest. On EV chargers, £500 a socket plus the rates exemption.

Local business energy grants: how to find what's left

Much of the council and growth hub money for business decarbonisation came from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and UKSPF can't fund activity after 30 September 2026. Some councils and combined authorities still run their own schemes. To find them:

  1. Search the GOV.UK Find a grant service for "energy" or "net zero".
  2. Check your council, combined authority and local growth hub business support pages.
  3. In Scotland, contact Business Energy Scotland. In Wales, contact Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales.
  4. Read the rules before you order anything. Most local grants won't fund work you've already started or committed to.

Ask us for a quote and we'll flag any funding route the installer knows is live in your area.

Why business energy upgrades pay back faster than home ones

Homes use most of their electricity in the evening. Most businesses use theirs in daylight, which is exactly when solar generates. Every unit you use straight from your roof avoids your full business unit rate, so commercial solar on a busy weekday site often pays back faster than a home system. Add the £1 million AIA and the rates exemption, and the net cost drops again. For the official price per kW, see commercial solar panel costs by system size.

The biggest wins are on big roofs with big daytime loads: warehouses, factories, cold stores, farms, schools and multi-site retailers.

How Great British Energy works for businesses

  1. Tell us about the site using the form: what you want to install, the site type and the rough size or bill.
  2. We pass your enquiry to one suitable installer that does commercial work in your area. It's one installer, not a list, and your details aren't sold on.
  3. They survey and quote. You decide. There's no obligation and no cost to you for the introduction.

We're an independent guide, paid by the installer we introduce. We are not the government's Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk) and we don't administer any grant.

Sources checked 28 October 2026

Great British Energy is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with Great British Energy, the publicly owned energy company (gbe.gov.uk), HM Government, Ofgem or OZEV. Scheme rules and budgets change, so confirm the current position with the scheme administrator before you commit spend. We may receive a fee from the installer we introduce you to.

Business energy grant questions

Are there government grants for businesses to save energy?

Yes, but they're targeted rather than general. In 2026 the national cash grants are the Workplace Charging Scheme (up to £500 per EV socket) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500 off a heat pump for smaller business buildings). The bigger savings usually come from tax: the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance and the business rates exemption for on-site solar and batteries.

Is there a grant for solar panels for businesses?

There's no national grant that pays for business solar in England. The real support is the Annual Investment Allowance (write off up to £1 million a year), the 50% first-year allowance for companies, the business rates exemption to 2035, and Smart Export Guarantee payments. See our commercial solar panel grants guide.

Can my business get a heat pump grant?

Yes, if the building is eligible. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme can be used for "a building used for your business" in England and Wales, with systems up to 45kWth, or 70kWth with more than one heat pump. It pays £7,500 for an air or ground source heat pump, plus £1,500 more until March 2027 if the building is heated by oil or LPG and has no mains gas connection.

What EV charger grants can businesses get?

The Workplace Charging Scheme pays up to £500 per socket, capped at 75% of costs, for up to 40 sockets across all your sites, until 31 March 2027. State-funded schools and colleges can get up to £2,000 per socket. The staff and fleets grant and the commercial landlord grant closed on 31 March 2026.

Are there energy grants for small businesses?

Small businesses can use every route on this page. Scotland's SME Loan and Wales's Green Business Loan Scheme are built for them, and local councils sometimes run small grants. The Annual Investment Allowance is open to sole traders and partnerships as well as companies.

Who are Great British Energy?

We're an independent energy guide that helps homes and businesses understand grants and get quotes. We are not affiliated with the government-owned Great British Energy (gbe.gov.uk) or HM Government. When you ask for a quote, we introduce you to one suitable installer, who pays us a fee.

More for business energy buyers

Commercial solar panelsCosts per kW, payback, tax breaks and how to get a proper commercial quote.Read guide → Commercial solar panel grantsEvery grant and incentive for business solar in 2026, and what has closed.Read guide → Workplace Charging Scheme£500 per socket, up to 40 sockets, until 31 March 2027. How to apply, step by step.Read guide → Commercial heat pumpsThe £7,500 grant for smaller business buildings, larger systems, costs and quotes.Read guide → Solar panels capital allowancesThe £1m AIA, the 50% first-year allowance, why full expensing doesn't apply, and worked examples.Read guide → MEES & commercial EPC rulesEPC E now, EPC B from 2031 for big buildings, the scrapped 2027 step, fines and exemptions.Read guide →

Get your business quoted properly

Solar, batteries, EV charging or heat pumps: tell us about the site and we'll introduce one suitable commercial installer. It's free and there's no obligation.

Get a free business energy quote →
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