Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what funding schemes are available to local authorities for solar panel installations.

Local authorities can support solar panel installations through several government schemes.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant is delivered through local authorities to low-income households in their areas, while local authorities that are social landlords can access the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund for eligible social homes. An additional £100 million for that Fund will support delivery of up to 57,000 solar installations across Wave 3. A total of £4.4 billion has been made available for grant schemes for low-income households up to 2030.

Great British Energy (GBE) supports public sector decarbonisation, and the GBE Solar programme is investing £255 million to fund around 250 schools, around 260 NHS sites, and around 15 military sites to install solar panels across the country.

Great British Energy has launched the biggest public investment into community energy in UK history, £30m of backing as a first downpayment on up to £1bn, to help local places cut bills, grow wealth and act on climate.

Mayoral Strategic Authorities can also support renewable energy projects through Great British Energy’s £10 million Mayoral Renewables Fund, while eligible authorities receive devolved funding for home retrofit and public sector buildings through Integrated Settlements. Over 150 renewable projects have now switched-on for public buildings in England’s Mayoral Combined Authorities, with more to follow – which together could see up to £50 million in total energy bill savings reinvested in local services