Green Heat Network Fund 2026 — DESNZ capital grants for low-carbon heat networks including solar thermal and solar PV plus heat pump configurations.
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is the UK's main capital support programme for district heating — networks of insulated pipes that deliver hot water or steam from a central energy centre to multiple buildings. The GHNF replaced the earlier Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and is funded by DESNZ to a total of £270 million over 2022-2025, with continuation funding expected.
Direct solar relevance is niche but growing. The GHNF supports projects that integrate solar PV with heat networks in two main ways: (a) using rooftop PV to power the heat pump that drives the network's hot water production, and (b) installing dedicated solar thermal arrays for low-temperature network priming. For commercial property owners developing or extending district heating — primarily new-build masterplans, university campuses, hospital campuses, and large commercial estates — the GHNF can substantially reduce the capex of the wider scheme.
| Headline grant rate | Up to 50% of capex |
| Typical award size | £500,000 – £30 million |
| Programme name | Green Heat Network Fund (replaced Heat Networks Investment Project) |
| Total fund value | £270m over 2022-2025; continuation expected |
| Eligible nations | England (Wales has parallel arrangements) |
| Solar relevance | PV + heat pump combinations; solar thermal on hot-water heat networks |
GHNF applications are technically complex; most successful applicants use specialist consultants.
Typically RIBA Stage 2 equivalent. Covers heat demand profile, network design, energy centre location, technology mix.
Short-form submission — eligibility and headline business case.
Includes detailed engineering design, financial model (typically 25-40 years), procurement strategy, environmental impact assessment.
Including Triple Point as the investment manager. Can take 3-9 months.
Successful awards have detailed milestone schedules and KPI reporting.
Grant paid in arrears against verified milestones.
Most successful 2026 commercial solar projects use a combination of schemes — this is where independent advice earns its keep. Green Heat Network Fund — solar plus heat networks typically combines well with:
The IETF closed in July 2025: no Phase 4, no successor fund, last window April 2024. What energy-intensive sites in England, Wales and NI us...
Closed — was 30-50% of project capex; no new awards since the Spring 2024 window
The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) is the UK's main capital support programme for district heating — networks of insulated pipes that deliver hot water or steam from a central energy centre to multiple buildings. The GHNF replaced the earlier Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) and is funded by DESNZ to a total of £270 million over 2022-2025, with continuation funding expected.
As of May 2026, the scheme's funding status is: Phased applications — Phase 2 closed; Phase 3 expected 2026. We re-check application windows monthly — if this is critical to your planning, request an eligibility check for the current programme status.
Typical award range: Up to 50% of capex on qualifying heat network projects. The size of any individual award depends on project capex, sector eligibility, match funding available and the scheme's per-applicant cap.
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ); Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management. Applications are submitted through the administrator's process — we link the relevant gov.uk and scheme pages at the bottom of this guide.
GHNF is not a solar grant. PV is funded as part of a wider heat network case. Standalone solar applications will be rejected. Heat network economics are complex. Most GHNF applications need 18-30 months of feasibility work before applying. Subsidy control rules for large infrastructure can require notification under the UK subsidy control regime.
Tell us your business — we map every active 2026 grant to your sector, size and postcode, and tell you which ones stack.
Free 60-second eligibility check tells you whether Green Heat Network Fund — solar plus heat networks applies — and which other schemes can stack.
Run free eligibility check Or call 0800 246 1132