The history of government grants for solar panel installation in the UK includes significant milestones like the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) in 2010, which was a major subsidy encouraging solar installations by paying for generated and exported electricity. This scheme was closed to new applications in 2019. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) replaced FiT in January 2020, rewarding solar generators for electricity exported back to the grid. Additionally, various schemes like ECO4 and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) have been introduced to assist low-income households and improve energy efficiency. The solar landscape in the UK has evolved from few installations before 2010 to over 14.4 GW of installed capacity by 2023, thanks in part to these government programs​​.

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Before 2010, financial support for installing solar panels in the UK was limited and not as structured or widespread as the schemes introduced post-2010, like the Feed-in Tariff. Early adopters of solar energy primarily relied on more general grants aimed at improving energy efficiency or renewable energy adoption, which were not specifically tailored to solar panel installations. The significant push for solar energy, characterised by substantial financial incentives, really began with the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff in April 2010.

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The UK's solar panel installation incentives began significantly with the 2010 Feed-in Tariff (FiT), boosting solar installations by offering payments for both generation and export of electricity. This scheme concluded in 2019, succeeded by the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) in 2020, which compensates for exported solar electricity. Additionally, schemes like ECO4 and HUG2 support low-income households in energy efficiency improvements. From scant installations before 2010, these initiatives have propelled the UK to over 14.4 GW of solar capacity by 2023.

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