Smart Export Guarantee for businesses
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3p–15p per kWh exported (2026 fixed tariffs)
Charitable trust grants · Updated 12 May 2026
Charity and faith sector grants for solar PV
Charity solar grants 2026 — National Lottery, Methodist Insurance, Allchurches Trust, FCO funds. Faith building solar funding routes including faculty.
Overview
Charity and faith sector solar grants are a patchwork of charitable trust funds, faith-specific schemes and listed-building conservation grants. The largest funder in recent years was the National Lottery Climate Action Fund (£100m programme, 2020-2024), which made significant solar awards to charities and faith bodies. Successor programmes are expected. Outside the National Lottery, the most accessible faith-sector funder is Methodist Insurance's Eco Grants (small grants of £500-£5,000 for solar, insulation and heat pump projects in Methodist Church buildings).
Many charity-owned buildings benefit from a combination of factors: enthusiastic volunteer project teams, mission-aligned ESG outcomes, lower commercial pressure to maximise IRR, and access to charitable trust funding. The challenge is that listed building consent and (for Church of England buildings) faculty jurisdiction can extend project timelines by 12-18 months. Solar projects on listed faith buildings need bespoke architectural advice well before any panels are specified.
Key facts at a glance
| Largest scheme | National Lottery Climate Action Fund (closed in 2024 — successors expected) |
| Faith sector flagship | Methodist Insurance Eco Grants (£500-£5,000) |
| Multi-faith fund | Allchurches Trust grants (£500-£25,000 for diverse projects) |
| Listed building support | Historic England grants where conservation impact |
| Application route | Direct to each trust |
| Typical scope | Solar PV on church / faith building / charity-owned commercial |
Eligibility criteria
- Most charitable trusts require registered charity status (Charity Commission for England & Wales, OSCR for Scotland, Charity Commission NI).
- Faith-specific schemes (Methodist Insurance, Allchurches Trust, Church Building Trust) require building ownership or trusteeship by the relevant faith body.
- Listed buildings require conservation consent — Listed Building Consent for the local planning authority and (for Church of England) faculty jurisdiction.
- Some trusts specifically fund decarbonisation — National Lottery Climate Action Fund being the most prominent; others fund building improvements more broadly.
- Most charitable grants are non-repayable but conditional on continued mission-aligned use of the building.
How to apply
Step 1 — Identify relevant trusts.
Resources include: the Charity Commission grant finder, the Cathedrals Plus website, the Heritage Fund map of building-related funders, and the Church Care website (for Church of England buildings).
Step 2 — Pre-application architectural advice for listed buildings.
Engage a heritage architect to assess listed building consent feasibility before any grant application.
Step 3 — Submit applications to multiple trusts in parallel.
Charitable trust funding is typically a portfolio approach — most projects require funding from 3-7 sources.
Step 4 — Faculty jurisdiction (Church of England buildings).
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches reviews proposals. Typical timeline 6-18 months.
Step 5 — Project delivery.
Where multiple funders contribute, each typically requires its own progress reporting and final claim.
Watch-outs and pitfalls
- Listed building consent can kill projects. Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings have very limited rooftop solar options. Heritage architects advise early.
- Faculty jurisdiction (Church of England) is slow and idiosyncratic. Some dioceses are highly supportive of solar; others are deeply cautious. Talk to your diocesan environmental officer early.
- Roman Catholic and other denominational church buildings have different consent regimes — typically diocesan property committees.
- Charitable trust funding is highly competitive. Strong applications require clear mission alignment, evidence of community benefit, and credible project management.
- Many faith building solar projects integrate with broader environmental missions — Eco Church (Christian denominations), Eco Synagogue, EcoMosque — which can strengthen funding applications.
Stacking with other grants and reliefs
Most successful 2026 commercial solar projects use a combination of schemes — this is where independent advice earns its keep. Charity and faith sector grants for solar PV typically combines well with:
- Smart Export Guarantee for businesses — 3p–15p per kWh exported (2026 fixed tariffs)
- Annual Investment Allowance for business solar — Up to £1 million per year, 100% first-year deduction
Sources & further reading
Related schemes
Income scheme Tax relief
Other relevant grants & reliefs
Annual Investment Allowance for business solar
AIA 2026 guide — how UK businesses claim 100% first-year tax relief on commercial solar PV up to £1m. Eligibility, calculation worked exampl...
Up to £1 million per year, 100% first-year deduction
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is Charity and faith sector grants for solar PV?
Charity and faith sector solar grants are a patchwork of charitable trust funds, faith-specific schemes and listed-building conservation grants. The largest funder in recent years was the National Lottery Climate Action Fund (£100m programme, 2020-2024), which made significant solar awards to charities and faith bodies. Successor programmes are expected. Outside the National Lottery, the most accessible faith-sector funder is Methodist Insurance's Eco Grants (small grants of £500-£5,000 for solar, insulation and heat pump projects in Methodist Church buildings).
Is the scheme open for applications in 2026?
As of May 2026, the scheme's funding status is: Varies by trust (most run annual or quarterly rounds). We re-check application windows monthly — if this is critical to your planning, request an eligibility check for the current programme status.
How much can a UK business get?
Typical award range: £500 – £50,000 typical. The size of any individual award depends on project capex, sector eligibility, match funding available and the scheme's per-applicant cap.
Who administers the scheme?
Various charitable trusts and faith bodies. Applications are submitted through the administrator's process — we link the relevant gov.uk and scheme pages at the bottom of this guide.
What are the biggest pitfalls applicants fall into?
Listed building consent can kill projects. Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings have very limited rooftop solar options. Heritage architects advise early. Faculty jurisdiction (Church of England) is slow and idiosyncratic. Some dioceses are highly supportive of solar; others are deeply cautious. Talk to your diocesan environmental officer early. Roman Catholic and other denominational church buildings have different consent regimes — typically diocesan property committees.
Check if your business qualifies
Free 60-second eligibility check tells you whether Charity and faith sector grants for solar PV applies — and which other schemes can stack.
Run free eligibility check Or call 0800 246 1132