Can you get free solar panels on a roof?

Companies offered to pay to lease your roof from you for 20-25 years and, in exchange, would install and maintain solar PV panels on it. You didn't have to pay upfront for the panels, and would also benefit from the free electricity produced by the system. But there are very few free solar panel schemes available now.

Are there free solar panels?

But there are very few free solar panel schemes available now. The Feed-in tariff scheme closed to new applicants in 2019 and has been replaced by the much-less-generous Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, making it much less attractive to businesses to offer free solar schemes. Learn about the Smart Export Guarantee scheme.

What if I signed up for free solar panels?

If you signed up for free solar panels when the FIT rate was at its highest, back in 2011, we calculated that you could miss out on as much as £23,000 for a 4kWp system. You would also have saved more than £5,000 over 25 years from the electricity produced by the panels.

Do you own solar panels?

You OWN the solar panels. Under these schemes, you pay for solar panels over a fixed period, say 20 years. There are no upfront costs, and instead you pay a monthly fee, which usually covers the solar panel and battery installation, repairs and maintenance.

How do free solar panel schemes work?

'Free' solar panel schemes, also known as rent-a-roof schemes, used to be commonplace a few years ago. These were run by companies eager to cash in on the feed-in tariff (FIT). This guarantees payment in return for electricity generated using renewable technologies, including solar power.

Can you save money on solar panels?

Another option for solar panel funding is the new VAT reduction on energy-saving products, such as PV panels. This means that, until March 2027, you’ll pay 0% on VAT to help homeowners transition to renewable energy. The average household could potentially see up to tax savings worth £2,850.