--- title: "Solar Grants & Funding Guidance | Independent Broker Devon & Somerset" description: "Honest, case-by-case guidance on solar grants and funding, SEG, ECO4, 0% VAT and OZEV EV charger grants. Independent advice across Devon & Somerset. Book your free consultation." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Solar Broker", "telephone": "0800 870 8003", "email": "hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk", "image": "/logo.png", "logo": "/logo.png", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Ann's Platt, Topsham", "addressLocality": "Exeter", "postalCode": "EX3 0DB", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "areaServed": [ "Devon", "Somerset", "EX", "TQ", "TA", "PL" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "The Solar Broker", "alternateName": "Solar Broker Devon", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Solar Broker" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "name": "Grants & Funding Guidance", "serviceType": "Grants & Funding Guidance", "provider": { "@type": "LocalBusiness", "name": "The Solar Broker", "telephone": "0800 870 8003", "areaServed": [ "Exeter", "Torquay", "Taunton", "Plymouth", "Devon", "Somerset" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Exeter", "postalCode": "EX3 0DB", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, "areaServed": "Devon & Somerset", "description": "Honest, case-by-case guidance on solar grants and funding, SEG, ECO4, 0% VAT and OZEV EV charger grants. Independent advice across Devon & Somerset. Book your free consultation.", "url": "https://thesolarbroker.co.uk/services/grants-funding" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you charge for grant guidance?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No, it's included in the free consultation. You never pay us at any stage, for any part of the service." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which grants and schemes are worth applying for right now?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For most households, the Smart Export Guarantee and 0% VAT are the two that reliably apply. ECO4 depends on qualifying benefits, and OZEV depends on property type and tenure. We check all four case-by-case." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) actually worth?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends entirely on which supplier's tariff you're on. Some pay a few pence per exported kWh; others pay close to nothing. Being on the right tariff, and having the export MPAN registered, genuinely matters." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Am I likely to qualify for ECO4?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "ECO4 is means-tested and property-tested. It's genuine, but narrower than the adverts suggest. We run through the eligibility on the free call so you know before you get your hopes up." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the 0% VAT rate apply automatically?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It should be reflected in a compliant installer's quote. We check the line items and confirm the installer is registered to apply it correctly, mistakes happen." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I get an OZEV grant as an owner-occupier?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not on a standard single-family home, that route closed. OZEV grants now target flats, rental properties and some workplace and infrastructure scenarios. We check your property type honestly." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens if a scheme changes after I've signed?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Grant rules change from time to time, which is another reason we don't build unrealistic promises into a quote. We stay on hand through the process so you're not left carrying a surprise." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you help with the paperwork or just point me at it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We stay involved through the applications, registrations and installer paperwork, not to charge for admin, but because these schemes get missed on technicalities we've seen before." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Services", "item": "/services" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Grants & Funding Guidance", "item": "https://thesolarbroker.co.uk/services/grants-funding" } ] } ] --- Independent by design · Devon & Somerset · Available 24/7 [hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk](mailto:hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk)[0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) [![The Solar Broker](/assets/logo-DoooI4Gt.png)](/) [Home](/) Services [ Solar Panels Find out whether solar is worthwhile for your home, how many panels will fit and what the system could realistically generate. ](/services/solar-panels)[ Battery Storage We calculate whether a battery is likely to improve your savings, resilience or use of cheaper overnight electricity, rather than adding one automatically. ](/services/battery-storage)[ EV Chargers Choose a charger that works with your vehicle, electricity supply, solar system and future plans. ](/services/ev-chargers)[ Backup Power & Energy Independence Explore systems designed to keep selected circuits running during a power cut and reduce your reliance on peak-rate electricity. ](/services/gateway-backup-power)[ Drone Surveys Your roof is inspected and measured before we recommend a system, helping avoid unsuitable layouts, overlooked shading and unrealistic generation estimates. ](/services/drone-surveys)[ Free Solar Suitability Consultation A 10–20 minute conversation about your home, electricity use and what you want solar to achieve. You will not be asked to make a decision during the call. ](/services/consultation)[ Grants & Funding Guidance We explain the funding, VAT, export and finance options that may apply to your circumstances, without suggesting that everyone will qualify. ](/services/grants-funding)[ Compare Suitable Installer Proposals Where suitable, we obtain comparable proposals from a small number of installers selected for your property, location and system requirements. ](/services/quote-comparison)[ Support After Installation We don't disappear after install. You keep our direct number and we step in to resolve any aftercare issue with the installer, whenever it comes up. ](/services/aftercare-support) Areas EX · Exeter Postcode [Exeter](/service-areas/exeter)[Exmouth](/service-areas/exmouth)[Barnstaple](/service-areas/barnstaple)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ex-surrounding-areas) TQ · Torquay Postcode [Torquay](/service-areas/torquay)[Newton Abbot](/service-areas/newton-abbot)[Paignton](/service-areas/paignton)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/tq-surrounding-areas) TA · Taunton Postcode [Taunton](/service-areas/taunton)[Bridgwater](/service-areas/bridgwater)[Yeovil](/service-areas/yeovil)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ta-surrounding-areas) PL · Plymouth Postcode [Plymouth](/service-areas/plymouth)[Saltash](/service-areas/saltash)[Tavistock](/service-areas/tavistock)[Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/pl-surrounding-areas) Our Work [Our Work](/our-work)[Case Study](/case-study) About [About](/about)[Reviews](/reviews) [Contact](/contact) [0800 870 8003 ](tel:+448008708003)[Book your free consultation](/book) 1. [Home ](/) 2. [Services](/services) 3. Grants & Funding Guidance ![Desk still-life with a printed funding document, calculator, stacked pound coins and a small model house with a miniature solar panel, representing UK solar grants and funding guidance](/__l5e/assets-v1/b110503d-6e9e-4650-b65b-cf2afedad52d/grants-hero.jpg) Grants & Funding · Devon & Somerset # Solar Grants & Funding, Explained Honestly. SEG, ECO4, 0% VAT, OZEV, Case By Case. You Only Pursue What You Genuinely Qualify For. The grants landscape changes constantly and the misinformation online is louder than the truth. We check each scheme against your specific household, including the Smart Export Guarantee, ECO4, 0% VAT on installations and OZEV EV charger grants, so you only spend time on the ones you're actually eligible for. [Book your free consultation](/book) [Call 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) Case-by-case eligibility check · No inflated grant promises · Independent broker · Phone answered 24/7 SEG, ECO4, 0% VAT and OZEV expertise Honest eligibility, never inflated MCS-vetted installer panel Independently underwritten guarantees £1M Public Liability · DBS Certified The service ## Grants & Funding Guidance, what it is, who it is for, and why professional advice matters. Grants and funding are one of the areas where homeowners get most misled. The rules change, the eligibility is narrower than adverts suggest, and "free solar" headlines almost never survive contact with the small print. our job on this service is simple: look at your actual situation, tell you which schemes genuinely apply, and help you claim what you're entitled to: nothing more. What it is A structured review of every relevant scheme against your household. That includes the Smart Export Guarantee tariff you'll be paid for exported electricity, ECO4 eligibility if you're on qualifying benefits or in a low-income band, the 0% VAT relief on energy-saving materials, and the OZEV EV chargepoint grant for eligible flats and rental properties. Where a scheme applies, we explain the paperwork, the timing and what your installer needs to do. Who it is for Anyone considering solar, batteries, or an EV charger in the EX, TQ, TA or PL postcodes, but especially households on qualifying benefits (ECO4), owners of flats or rental properties (OZEV), and anyone who has been quoted with a grant already "factored in" and wants an independent check that it actually applies. When it makes sense Ideally before you sign anything. Grants shape the installer choice, the specification and the paperwork, leaving them to the last minute is how people end up ineligible on a technicality. Why a professional There is a whole tier of the market that advertises grants they know most enquiries won't qualify for. An independent broker has no reason to overstate eligibility, because a customer who's been told the truth is a customer who trusts the recommendation that follows. What happens if you get it wrong ## The cost of taking grant claims at face value. The Which? and Trading Standards case files on solar are full of households who signed on the strength of a grant that was never coming. The guidance here exists to make sure you're not one of them. Risks of getting it wrong - Signing based on an "ECO4-funded" quote that never materialises after the survey. - Missing the 0% VAT window because the installer isn't set up to apply it correctly. - Losing SEG income because the export MPAN never gets registered with your supplier. - Buying an EV charger on the assumption of an OZEV grant your property doesn't qualify for. Common homeowner mistakes - Assuming every scheme in the advert applies to every household. - Not checking whether your specific supplier's SEG tariff is competitive, several are close to zero. - Skipping the paperwork trail and losing the entitlement on audit. - Treating grants as a discount to be handed to the installer rather than a benefit that belongs to you. Our process ## How we handle grants & funding guidance, step by step. 1. Step 01 ### Free phone consultation A 10–20 minute call to understand your bill, your home and what you actually want from your grants and funding review. No sales script, we answer our own phone. 2. Step 02 ### On-site + licensed drone survey we attend personally, flies a licensed drone over the roof, and designs the system in paid bespoke software, not a free web tool. Site visits typically within 2–3 days of your call. 3. Step 03 ### Vetted installer quotes Around three like-for-like quotes from the small panel of MCS installers we vet against seven strict criteria. Every installer pays us the same commission, so there is no hidden reason to favour one. 4. Step 04 ### Installation + verification You contract directly with your chosen installer. They complete the work to MCS standards, and we cross-check the commissioning paperwork, EPVS registration and grant applications on your behalf. 5. Step 05 ### Aftercare | indefinitely You keep our number. Independently underwritten guarantees stand even if the installer changes shape, and any dispute is escalated by us on your behalf. Benefits ## What you actually get. ### Honest eligibility check Every scheme assessed against your actual household | never inflated to close a sale. ### SEG done properly We help make sure your export meter is registered and you're on a competitive Smart Export Guarantee tariff | not the default near-zero rate. ### ECO4 realism If you qualify, we help you claim it. If you don't, we tell you plainly rather than string you along. ### 0% VAT applied correctly Zero-rated VAT on qualifying installs | checked line-by-line on the quote, not assumed. ### OZEV without the confusion Straight answers on which EV charger grants apply to flats, rentals and eligible workplaces. ### Paperwork chased We stay involved through the applications and registrations so nothing quietly falls through the cracks. In detail ## The technical bit, in plain English. A closer look at each of the main schemes and how we assess them for you. ### Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) SEG is the legal obligation on larger suppliers to pay you for the surplus electricity your solar panels export to the grid. The catch is that tariffs vary enormously, from close to zero to genuinely useful, and the export MPAN registration is often left half-done. We help you pick a competitive tariff and make sure the paperwork actually completes. ### ECO4 ECO4 is the current Energy Company Obligation that can fund energy-efficiency measures for households on qualifying benefits or in low-income, low-EPC-rated homes. Genuine ECO4 solar exists, but the eligibility is narrower than most adverts suggest. We check your situation honestly before anyone raises expectations. ### 0% VAT on installations Qualifying installations of solar, batteries and heat pumps benefit from zero-rated VAT until at least March 2027. It should already be reflected on your quote, we check the line items to make sure it is, and that the installer is set up to apply it correctly. ### OZEV EV chargepoint grants The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles offers grants for eligible flats, rental properties and some workplace scenarios. Full house owner-occupiers no longer qualify. We check your property type and tenure and give you a straight answer on eligibility before you pick a charger. ### What we won't do We won't invent eligibility, we won't quote a grant into a package that you may not receive, and we won't chase grant claims that the paperwork clearly rules out. That discipline is why the guidance is worth listening to in the first place. Straight answers ## Grants & Funding Guidance, the questions homeowners actually ask. Can't see your question? Speak directly to us, no call-centre script and no pressure to book. [Call 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003)[Book your free consultation](/book) ### Do you charge for grant guidance? No, it's included in the free consultation. You never pay us at any stage, for any part of the service. ### Which grants and schemes are worth applying for right now? ### What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) actually worth? ### Am I likely to qualify for ECO4? ### Does the 0% VAT rate apply automatically? ### Can I get an OZEV grant as an owner-occupier? ### What happens if a scheme changes after I've signed? ### Do you help with the paperwork or just point me at it? Related services ## Often paired with grants & funding guidance. [ ### Free Solar Suitability Consultation A 10–20 minute conversation about your home, electricity use and what you want solar to achieve. You will not be asked to make a decision during the call. Learn more ](/services/consultation)[ ### Solar Panels Find out whether solar is worthwhile for your home, how many panels will fit and what the system could realistically generate. Learn more ](/services/solar-panels)[ ### EV Chargers Choose a charger that works with your vehicle, electricity supply, solar system and future plans. Learn more ](/services/ev-chargers) Or return to the [homepage](/), browse [all services](/services), or [call us on 0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003). Ready when you are ## Find out which grants actually apply to your home. Free, honest, case-by-case, from a broker who has no financial reason to overstate eligibility. MCS-vetted installers · £1M Public Liability · Independently underwritten guarantees [Book your free consultation](/book) [0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) ![The Solar Broker](/assets/logo-DoooI4Gt.png) Independent solar advice for homeowners across Devon, Somerset and south-east Cornwall. You pay us nothing; every installer pays the same fixed fee if you choose to proceed. Based in Topsham, Exeter, and covering homes across the stated EX, TQ, TA and PL postcode areas. Not sure whether your postcode is included? Call us and we will confirm before you book. [0800 870 8003](tel:+448008708003) [hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk](mailto:hello@thesolarbroker.co.uk) Ann's Platt, Topsham, Exeter EX3 0DB Services [Solar Panels](/services/solar-panels)[Battery Storage](/services/battery-storage)[EV Chargers](/services/ev-chargers)[Backup Power & Energy Independence](/services/gateway-backup-power)[Drone Surveys](/services/drone-surveys)[Free Solar Suitability Consultation](/services/consultation)[Grants & Funding Guidance](/services/grants-funding)[Compare Suitable Installer Proposals](/services/quote-comparison)[Support After Installation](/services/aftercare-support) Service Areas [EX, Exeter](/service-areas/exeter)[EX, Exmouth](/service-areas/exmouth)[EX, Barnstaple](/service-areas/barnstaple)[EX, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ex-surrounding-areas)[TQ, Torquay](/service-areas/torquay)[TQ, Newton Abbot](/service-areas/newton-abbot)[TQ, Paignton](/service-areas/paignton)[TQ, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/tq-surrounding-areas)[TA, Taunton](/service-areas/taunton)[TA, Bridgwater](/service-areas/bridgwater)[TA, Yeovil](/service-areas/yeovil)[TA, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/ta-surrounding-areas)[PL, Plymouth](/service-areas/plymouth)[PL, Saltash](/service-areas/saltash)[PL, Tavistock](/service-areas/tavistock)[PL, Surrounding Areas](/service-areas/pl-surrounding-areas) Company [About us](/about)[Accreditations](/accreditations)[How we compare](/comparison)[Our Work](/our-work)[Reviews](/reviews)[Contact](/contact) Legal [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions)[Complaints Procedure](/complaints)[Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy) © 2026 The Solar Broker. 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