UK Regional Solar Funds Compared 2026 — 30+ programmes mapped

Commercial Solar Finance has compiled an open UK reference of regional, devolved-nation and national funding programmes relevant to commercial solar PV projects. The reference covers 30+ programmes across combined authorities, Investment Zones, devolved-nation schemes, foundation grants and innovation funding routes.

Key findings for journalists

• The funding landscape is fragmented. Each programme has its own eligibility rules, and most organisations qualify for only a few of them.
• Private-sector commercial solar relies mainly on the tax system. Direct cash grants for private-sector commercial solar are rare; for a profitable company the AIA, then the permanent 50% FYA for special-rate plant, are worth up to 25% of the cost at the 25% main rate.
• Investment Zones add tax reliefs rather than direct grants. The 8 Investment Zones in England offer tax reliefs, including enhanced capital allowances, for qualifying investment on their designated tax sites; solar accompanies broader site investment.
• Devolved-nation programmes run in parallel to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run their own public-sector decarbonisation routes.
• Foundation grants are worth checking for charities. Some funders, including The National Lottery Community Fund's Climate Action Fund, support charity and community climate projects that can include solar; check each funder's current criteria.

Notable themes

• PSDS is closed. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme closed to new applications in November 2024, and Phase 4 is its final phase. It funded heat decarbonisation projects, with solar funded as part of them rather than on its own.
• Cluster decarbonisation is heat-focused. Industrial cluster programmes (Solent, Humber, Black Country, Mersey Dee) primarily target heavy industrial heat decarbonisation. Solar PV qualifies as supporting measure but not headline.
• City Deals provide novel structures. Bristol City Leap (£424m, 20-year Ameresco partnership) and Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (£1.2bn) demonstrate scalable models for region-wide energy transformation.

Reference resources

• Full table on commercialsolarfinance.co.uk — 30+ programmes with eligibility, terms, sector coverage, and notes
• Downloadable CSV — same data in structured format for analysis
• Grants & funding overview — broader UK commercial solar funding context

About Commercial Solar Finance

Commercial Solar Finance is an independent UK publisher of commercial solar finance guidance. The site compares six finance structures (capital purchase, green loans, finance lease, operating lease, PPA, asset finance) for UK businesses, public-sector estates, charities and property owners. It does not arrange finance, sell systems or introduce installers, and it does not accept manufacturer commissions, installer commissions or lender introducer fees.

For data-set queries:

• Email: info@commercialsolarfinance.co.uk (we reply by email)