Warm Homes Loan Scheme in Scotland: solar panels & batteries
The Warm Homes Loan Scheme is a UK-wide, government-backed loan offered through lenders, so it applies in Scotland too. Homeowners can borrow up to £15,000 for solar panels and up to £15,000 for a battery, fitted by an MCS-certified installer. Ecoaim is an MCS-certified solar and battery installer based in Livingston, working across the Central Belt. We are not a lender or credit broker and do not arrange the loan: you choose a lender from the GOV.UK list, and we give you the installation quote.
Get your MCS installation quote
Before you borrow, you need to know what the work will cost. Tell us about your home and we will survey the roof and give you a written quote for solar panels, a battery or both, which you can take to the lender you choose.
Ecoaim is not a lender or credit broker and does not arrange Warm Homes loans. Loans are subject to the lender's own credit and affordability checks.
How the Warm Homes Loan Scheme works
- It is UK-wide and lender-led. The loan comes from a lender, such as a bank, not from the government. Government funding brings the interest rate down, which is why GOV.UK describes it as a way to pay for improvements such as solar panels and heat pumps.
- Who can apply. You must own the home, with or without a mortgage, and it must be a residential property in the UK. The scheme rules also cover private landlords borrowing personally. There is no income test; the lender runs its own credit and affordability checks and may have extra rules.
- Rates. Some loans are interest-free; rates and terms vary by lender. Ask the lenders directly about their products.
- An MCS-certified installer is required. You cannot do the work yourself, and after installation the work may be checked as part of an audit.
What the loan covers, and the caps
These caps are from the Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules (version 3, September 2026). Ecoaim's MCS certification covers solar PV and battery storage, so those are the two we can quote for.
| Improvement | Loan cap | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels (PV) | Up to £15,000 | Ecoaim installs these (MCS certified) |
| Battery storage | Up to £15,000 | Ecoaim installs these (MCS certified) |
| Air-to-water (air source) heat pump | Up to £20,000 | Needs an MCS-certified heat pump installer |
| Ground source heat pump | Up to £35,000 | Needs an MCS-certified heat pump installer |
| Air-to-air heat pump | Not yet eligible | Waiting for MCS to be able to certify it |
| EV charger | Only as an add-on | Alongside solar panels or a battery, not on its own |
| Insulation | Not eligible | Not covered by this loan scheme |
As at 3 November 2026. Source: Warm Homes Loan Scheme rules v3 (September 2026), s.4.13–4.19, and the GOV.UK eligibility page.
Warm Homes Loan and Home Energy Scotland: which applies to you
Scotland has its own funding body, Home Energy Scotland, so it helps to know which route fits which improvement.
- Solar panels and batteries: Home Energy Scotland's grant and loan stopped funding solar PV and batteries on 6 June 2024 and has not brought them back. For these, the Warm Homes Loan is the government-backed loan route.
- Heat pumps: Home Energy Scotland offers a grant of up to £7,500 plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500, with up to £1,500 more in remote rural and island areas. Its loans carry a 1.5% administration fee, capped at £150 per application. See the Home Energy Scotland funding table.
- Using both: GOV.UK says you may be able to use a Warm Homes loan as well as Home Energy Scotland grants, but you cannot use both to pay for the same improvement.
- On a low income: Warmer Homes Scotland may fund upgrades instead of a loan, for eligible households; read our Warmer Homes Scotland guide or ask Home Energy Scotland.
0% VAT still applies
Solar panels and batteries installed in homes are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 under HMRC VAT Notice 708/6. Our quotes for homes already include it, so a Warm Homes loan pays for an installed price with no VAT on top. Our solar panel costs in Scotland guide shows typical installed prices.
How to apply
- Check the improvement is covered. Solar panels and battery storage both are, within the caps above.
- Choose a lender from the GOV.UK list of Warm Homes Loan lenders, and ask them about rates, terms and their own eligibility rules.
- Get an MCS installer's quote. We survey your home and give you a written quote for the system that suits your roof and your electricity use.
- The lender decides. It runs its credit and affordability checks and sets the rate and term.
- Installation. We install and register the system with MCS. The work may later be checked as part of the scheme's audit.
Our step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Warm Homes Loan in Scotland covers what to have ready.
Stay safe from loan scams
The government and lenders never cold-call to sell Warm Homes loans or charge a fee to apply. If someone contacts you out of the blue, do not share bank details; go to the lender yourself through the GOV.UK list. You can check any installer on the MCS register.
Warm Homes Loan questions
Can I get a Warm Homes Loan in Scotland?
Yes. The Warm Homes Loan Scheme is UK-wide, so it covers homes in Scotland as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You must own the home, with or without a mortgage, and it must be a residential property. The loan comes from a lender on the GOV.UK list, and that lender runs its own credit and affordability checks.
How much can I borrow for solar panels and a battery?
The scheme rules cap the loan at £15,000 for solar panels and £15,000 for battery storage. You can use one loan for more than one improvement. The work must be done by an MCS-certified installer, and you cannot install it yourself.
Is the Warm Homes Loan interest-free?
Some Warm Homes loans are interest-free, but not all. Rates and repayment terms vary by lender. Contact the lenders on the GOV.UK list directly about their rates, terms and eligibility rules.
Can I use a Warm Homes Loan with Home Energy Scotland funding?
GOV.UK says you may be able to use a Warm Homes loan alongside Home Energy Scotland grants, but not to pay for the same improvement. Home Energy Scotland has not funded solar panels or batteries since 6 June 2024, so for solar and battery storage the Warm Homes Loan is the government-backed loan route in Scotland. Home Energy Scotland still funds heat pumps and insulation.
Does Ecoaim arrange the loan?
No. Ecoaim is not a lender or credit broker and does not arrange Warm Homes loans. You apply to the lender yourself. We are the MCS-certified installer: we survey your home and give you a written quote for the solar panels or battery.
Read more: solar panels · battery storage · solar panels with a battery · grants and finance in Scotland
Solar and battery installers across our area
Ecoaim installs across the Central Belt and Fife from our Livingston base. Find your nearest town below for local survey availability and postcode-specific solar yield figures.
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