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Scotland-specific advice — different grants and DNOs to England. 0% VAT until March 2027. Free survey
Scotland Solar.uk
by Scottish Energy Efficiency
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁥 Scotland vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧 England — Grants Comparison

Scotland Solar Grants vs EnglandHES vs Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Scottish homeowners searching for heat pump grants often find advice about the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) — but the BUS does not apply in Scotland. Scotland has its own scheme through Home Energy Scotland (HES), which is actually more generous for many households: up to £7,500 non-repayable grant plus a £7,500 interest-free loan, with a +£1,500 rural uplift. The BUS only offers £7,500 with no loan and no rural uplift. Call 0141 230 0198 for Scotland-specific grant advice.
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Are you reading UK solar advice that doesn’t apply in Scotland?

Many UK solar websites give advice that only applies in England and Wales. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) does not exist in Scotland. Scottish homeowners use Home Energy Scotland instead — which includes a non-repayable grant plus an interest-free loan on top. Different DNOs, different planning rules, different grants. This site is Scotland-specific. All information applies to Scottish homeowners only.

Full Comparison Table

Topic
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁥Scotland
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧England / Wales
Heat Pump Grant
✓HES: £7,500 grant + £7,500 interest-free loan
✗BUS: £7,500 grant only — no loan
Rural Uplift
✓+£1,500 HES rural uplift (grant + loan)
✗No equivalent rural uplift scheme
Solar PV Grant
✓HES solar PV stopped June 2024
~No solar grant either
0% VAT Solar
✓Yes — until 31 March 2027
~Yes — until 31 March 2027
Fuel Poverty Scheme
✓Warmer Homes Scotland (different eligibility)
~ECO4 (different criteria and delivery)
DNO Networks
✓SPEN (Central Belt) + SSEN (Highlands/NE)
~UKPN, Western Power, Northern Powergrid etc.
Planning Policy
✓Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)
~NPPF — different rules
Smart Export Guarantee
✓Yes — SEG UK-wide (Octopus Flux ~30p/kWh)
~Yes — same SEG rates

HES vs BUS — Side by Side

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁥

Home Energy Scotland (HES)

✓Available in: Scotland ONLY
✓Grant: up to £7,500 non-repayable
✓Loan: up to £7,500 interest-free
✓Rural uplift: +£1,500 (grant + loan)
✓Total (rural): up to £18,000
✓Covers: air & ground source heat pumps
✓Administered by: Home Energy Scotland
Full HES Guide →
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

~Available in: England & Wales ONLY
~Grant: up to £7,500 non-repayable
✗Loan: NONE — no loan component
✗Rural uplift: NONE
✗Total maximum: £7,500
~Covers: air & ground source heat pumps
~Administered by: Ofgem
Not Available in Scotland

Why Scotland’s HES Scheme is More Generous

For rural Scottish homeowners especially, HES significantly outperforms the BUS. A rural property in Scotland can access:

  • ✓ £9,000 grant (£7,500 + £1,500 rural uplift)
  • ✓ £9,000 interest-free loan (£7,500 + £1,500 rural uplift)
  • ✓ Total: £18,000 in combined support
  • ✗ BUS maximum: £7,500 (no loan, no rural uplift)

Scotland Grants FAQs

No — the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is only available in England and Wales. Scottish homeowners should apply for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) heat pump grant instead, which provides up to £7,500 non-repayable grant plus a £7,500 interest-free loan. Call 0141 230 0198.

For most Scottish homeowners, Home Energy Scotland (HES) is more generous than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). Both offer £7,500 in non-repayable grants, but HES also includes a £7,500 interest-free loan on top — giving up to £15,000 in total support. Rural Scottish properties get an extra £1,500 uplift, making the total up to £16,500. The BUS offers no loan and no rural uplift. Call 0141 230 0198.

Home Energy Scotland provides a rural uplift of +£1,500 on both the grant and the loan for properties in rural or island locations. This means rural Scottish homeowners can access up to £9,000 grant + £9,000 loan = £18,000 in total support for a heat pump. There is no equivalent rural uplift under the BUS in England. Call 0141 230 0198.

No — the Home Energy Scotland solar PV grant stopped accepting new applications in June 2024. The BUS has never funded solar either. The main solar incentives in Scotland are the same as in England: 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 (saving £1,200–£2,200) and the Smart Export Guarantee. ECO4 may fund solar for eligible low-income households. Call 0141 230 0198.

ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) has been extended until December 2026. It provides fully funded energy improvements to low-income households in properties rated EPC D–G. It applies across the UK including Scotland, but the delivery in Scotland may involve different local authorities and installers. Scottish homeowners on qualifying benefits may be eligible. Call 0141 230 0198.

Yes — the 0% VAT rate on solar panels, battery storage, and heat pumps applies across the whole UK including Scotland. It is valid until 31 March 2027, after which VAT reverts to 5% (not 20%). On a typical 4kWp solar installation, this saves approximately £1,200–£2,200. Call 0141 230 0198.

Warmer Homes Scotland is a Scottish Government programme that funds free energy efficiency upgrades for qualifying fuel-poverty households, including solar and heat pump installation. It is administered through Home Energy Scotland and has different eligibility criteria and delivery to England's ECO4. Both schemes exist but are separate programmes. Apply through Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or call Scottish Energy Efficiency on 0141 230 0198.

To apply for the Home Energy Scotland (HES) heat pump grant, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282. They will assess your eligibility and connect you with a registered HES installer. You must use an MCS-certified installer registered with the HES scheme. Scottish Energy Efficiency is a registered HES installer. Call 0141 230 0198 for help with the application process.

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