Is there a grant for solar panels on the Isle of Man?
The short answer
Not at the moment. The island’s new home energy scheme says in writing that it does not cover solar.
The Heat Wise Home scheme, approved by Tynwald on 23 July 2026, funds heat pumps, insulation, windows, doors and smaller energy-saving measures. Its own page says it “doesn’t cover any solar technologies”. What you can get instead is a payment for the electricity a hardwired system sends to the grid.
The honest answer is short. We checked the government’s own pages on 16 October 2026 and found no grant for solar panels open to island homes. This page sets out what we read, what the schemes do cover, and what help there is if you go ahead without a grant.
The Heat Wise Home scheme
Heat Wise Home is the island’s new scheme for home energy improvements. It was put forward by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture working with Manx Utilities, and Tynwald approved it on 23 July 2026. When we checked, its page said the scheme was not yet open and invited people to sign up to be told when it is.
It is built around heating and keeping heat in. The works it lists, to begin with, are:
- Heating: air source heat pumps, and radiator upgrades needed for one.
- Insulation: loft, roof, wall and floor insulation of several kinds.
- Windows, doors and ventilation: better external doors, replacing single glazing, replacing old double glazing and doors at the end of their life, and heat recovery ventilation.
- Smaller measures: draught proofing, LED bulbs, radiator reflector panels, tank jackets, pipe insulation, smart heating controls and radiator valves.
On solar, the scheme is explicit. Under the heading “A note on solar PV or other technologies”, it explains the focus on heating and insulation and says: “This means that the scheme doesn’t cover any solar technologies and instead focuses on heating and fabric improvements.” Batteries are not on its list either.
For context, the scheme offers two levels of help based on income, savings and circumstances. Full support can mean up to £16,000 towards an air source heat pump and up to £7,000 for efficiency works. Partial support can mean an £8,000 grant towards a heat pump, interest-free credit of up to £8,000 through Manx Utilities, and half the cost of efficiency works up to £7,000. The eligibility rules are on the scheme’s page.
From Net Zero Isle of Man’s update on the Heat Wise Home scheme (published 14 August 2026), read on 16 October 2026.
The schemes that came before
The Energy Efficiency Scheme gave eligible households free energy-saving items, such as LED bulbs, draught excluders and loft insulation. Its page says it is now being closed in stages and that the same products will move to Heat Wise Home. Solar does not appear anywhere on that page.
The Green Living Grant Scheme opened in October 2021 and offered up to £6,000 per property towards works recommended by a home energy audit. When it was announced, the government said applicants could seek help with improvements “ranging from insulation and double glazing to low carbon heating systems and solar panels”. That was the island’s grant route for solar. Net Zero Isle of Man now describes it as a former scheme.
From the Energy Efficiency Scheme page on Help for Households, read on 16 October 2026; the Isle of Man Government’s announcement of 9 May 2022; and the government’s statement quoted by Isle of Man Today on 30 July 2021.
What about the grants on British websites?
Many solar websites list grants and schemes run by the UK Government. The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom and has its own government, so a UK scheme is not the same as island help. If a site offers you a “government solar grant” without naming an Isle of Man scheme, ask which scheme it means and check it on gov.im before you sign anything.
What you can get instead
There is no grant, but there is a payment. With a hardwired rooftop or garden system, Manx Utilities’ Sustainable Generation tariff pays 9.7p for each unit you send to the grid. It is not money towards the cost of the panels, but it is part of how a system pays for itself. You need Manx Utilities’ written approval before connecting, and our solar panels guide explains how that works.
Installing solar panels also carries a 0% rate of VAT until 31 March 2027, which the Isle of Man Treasury applies to the supply and installation of energy-saving materials. Our costs guide explains it and checks a quote for you.
If the cost of a full system is the hurdle, a plug-in solar kit is the smaller step. It is far cheaper, it still needs Manx Utilities’ consent, and it earns nothing for exported power, so it suits homes that use electricity during the day. Plug-in or rooftop compares the two.
Tariff from Manx Utilities’ domestic tariffs page, read on 28 September 2026.
Related guides
Common questions
Is there a solar panel grant on the Isle of Man?
Not at present. When we checked on 16 October 2026, the new Heat Wise Home scheme says it does not cover any solar technologies, the Energy Efficiency Scheme is closing and never mentioned solar, and the Green Living Grant Scheme, which could fund solar panels, is described as a former scheme.
Does Heat Wise Home cover solar batteries?
No. Batteries are not on its list of supported works, and the scheme says it does not cover any solar technologies.
Can I use a UK solar grant on the Isle of Man?
Schemes run by the UK Government are for the UK, and the Isle of Man is not part of it. Look for an Isle of Man scheme on gov.im instead.
Will there be a solar grant in future?
Heat Wise Home lists its supported works as an initial set, so its scope could change. We check the scheme’s page and will update this guide if solar is added.
Do I get paid for the electricity my panels make?
For a hardwired system approved by Manx Utilities, yes: its Sustainable Generation tariff pays 9.7p for each unit exported. Plug-in kits cannot use the tariff.