Invest NI 2026 — grants and loan support for Northern Ireland SMEs investing in solar PV. Sustainable Productivity programme, Energy efficiency capital grants.
Invest NI is Northern Ireland's economic development agency, with a particular focus on improving competitiveness in manufacturing, tradeable services and agri-food. Within its remit it runs several grant programmes that can fund commercial solar PV — most notably the Sustainable Productivity programme (matched capital grants for energy efficiency and decarbonisation) and various Energy Efficiency capital grant calls.
Unlike English schemes, Invest NI takes a more bespoke, account-managed approach. Most applications start with an introductory conversation with a sector-specific account manager who then shapes the application around the most relevant grant line. This works well for projects with broader productivity narratives (e.g. solar PV + new manufacturing line + automation) but can be slower for standalone solar applications.
| Maximum grant | Up to 50% match funding on qualifying capex |
| Typical grant size | £20,000 – £200,000 |
| Application route | Direct to Invest NI |
| Programme name | Sustainable Productivity programme + Energy Efficiency Capital Grant |
| Eligible sectors | Manufacturing, tradeable services, agri-food, life sciences |
| Geographic scope | Northern Ireland only |
If you don't have one, contact Invest NI's main switchboard and ask to be allocated to a sector-relevant account manager.
Solar PV typically maps to the Sustainable Productivity programme, Energy Efficiency capital grant, or — for larger industrial projects — formerly to IETF applications coordinated through Invest NI (the UK-wide IETF closed in July 2025 with no successor).
Invest NI typically requires a 10-20 page project plan covering strategic case, financial case, management case, and economic case (HM Treasury Five Case Model).
Invest NI's application system is online; expect 4-6 weeks for initial assessment.
Invest NI's analysts review the application and may commission an independent technical reviewer.
Successful applications receive a Letter of Offer with conditions attached. Conditions typically include matched funding evidence, MCS certification of installer, and monitoring requirements.
Grant is paid in arrears against verified expenditure milestones.
Most successful 2026 commercial solar projects use a combination of schemes — this is where independent advice earns its keep. Invest NI green tech grants for business solar 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
Regional growth hub solar grants 2026 — Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West of England, York and beyond. £1k-£25k match-funded grants fo...
£1,000 – £25,000 typical (match-funded, usually 40-60%)
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
Invest NI is Northern Ireland's economic development agency, with a particular focus on improving competitiveness in manufacturing, tradeable services and agri-food. Within its remit it runs several grant programmes that can fund commercial solar PV — most notably the Sustainable Productivity programme (matched capital grants for energy efficiency and decarbonisation) and various Energy Efficiency capital grant calls.
As of May 2026, the scheme's funding status is: Rolling intake. 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: £10,000 – £750,000 typical project size. The size of any individual award depends on project capex, sector eligibility, match funding available and the scheme's per-applicant cap.
Invest Northern Ireland (Department for the Economy). Applications are submitted through the administrator's process — we link the relevant gov.uk and scheme pages at the bottom of this guide.
Invest NI prioritises productivity gains. A solar project that simply reduces energy bills will struggle for funding; one that enables process electrification, new manufacturing capacity, or improved competitiveness in export markets fares better. Service sectors outside Invest NI's tradeable services remit (e.g. local retail, hospitality, professional services serving NI domestic market) typically do not qualify. They should look at the Northern Ireland equivalent of growth hub support — typically through their council. Application heavy. The Five Case Model documentation is detailed. Most applicants need either internal capability or external grant-writing support.
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 Invest NI green tech grants for business solar applies — and which other schemes can stack.
Run free eligibility check Or call 0800 246 1132