What information should I provide before applying for a renewable energy grant?

The most useful information shows three things: the property qualifies for the scheme, the proposed technology is suitable, and the grant does not hide essential work that the property will still need. We use it to prepare an accurate application and separate the grant-funded installation from any additional work.

Start with the ownership and consent details. Tell us who owns the property and who will approve the work. A landlord may need the tenant’s details and permission for access, while a leaseholder may need consent from a freeholder or management company. If the property is listed, in a conservation area or subject to another planning restriction, include that information at the start. It can affect the position of solar panels, an external heat pump unit, pipework or a flue.

Tell us which technology you are considering and what you want it to do. A heat pump application needs different information from a solar and battery application. For example, you may want to replace an oil boiler, reduce electricity bought from the grid, use more of your solar generation in the evening, or provide hot water from the new system. Your reason matters because it helps us assess the right equipment and avoid designing an installation around the wrong priority.

For an air source heat pump, explain how the home is used and which rooms have caused problems in the past. Details about cold rooms, the number of occupants, hot water demand and preferred indoor temperatures help us assess the heating load. Tell us about radiators that have already been changed, underfloor heating and any rooms where pipework would be difficult to extend.

If the property is off the gas grid, include the fuel currently used and the position of the oil or LPG equipment. We need to understand what will be removed, retained or made safe. An older solid-wall house, barn conversion or listed property may need a different approach to radiator sizing, insulation and pipe routes than a modern house.

For solar panels and batteries, send the practical roof and electrical details. Useful information includes:

• Photographs of each roof face, including dormers, roof windows, chimneys and nearby trees
• The roof covering and any known repairs or replacement work
• The location of the electricity meter, consumer unit and proposed inverter or battery
• Details of any existing solar panels, battery or other generation equipment
• Information about high electricity use, such as electric heating, an immersion heater or an electric vehicle
• Your preference for using stored energy, exporting it or keeping backup power where the chosen system allows it

Photographs do not replace a proper site assessment, but they help us spot likely cable routes, access issues and possible shading before that assessment. They also show whether the consumer unit or other electrical equipment may need attention before the generation system can be connected.

Include any information about the electricity connection. A recent electricity bill can help show the existing supply and consumption pattern. Tell us if the property has a single-phase or three-phase supply, if you know it, and whether the electricity network operator has previously raised an issue with adding generation. We can then identify whether an application or technical check may be needed before the installation is finalised.

Send records for the existing heating and electrical systems. A boiler make and model, service record, cylinder size, oil tank details, previous electrical inspection report or consumer unit information can all be useful. If you have certificates for earlier renewable installations, include those too. We do not need a complete technical history before making an initial assessment, but accurate records reduce the need to make assumptions.

Tell us about work already planned. A roof replacement, extension, rewire, insulation project or change to the heating system can alter the best position and specification. Coordinating the work may avoid removing newly installed equipment or opening finished walls later. It also helps us show which costs relate to the renewable installation and which belong to separate building or improvement work.

Grant schemes can require evidence in addition to the technical information. Depending on the scheme, this may include property documents, an EPC, photographs, permission for the work or details confirming that an existing system is being replaced. Requirements can change, so we check the current rules rather than relying on an old application or an online checklist.

For eligible heat pump and renewable installations, our MCS certification allows us to make a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant application on your behalf where the scheme rules permit it. It also means the installation can qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee when the other conditions are met. The scheme administrator makes the final decision, so we explain what the information supports and what it cannot guarantee.

If you do not have every document, send what you have and say what is missing. We can identify the gaps, explain which details need confirming and arrange the technical checks needed for the application. We do not treat an uncertain roof, radiator system or electrical supply as suitable by default. We check it first, then provide written costs for the proposed installation and any additional work before work starts.