FETF Farm Solar Application Guide 2026: How to Apply & Win

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is the primary route to capital grant funding for farm solar in England in 2026. A successful FETF application can cover up to 40% of your solar installation cost — worth £20,000–£100,000 depending on system size. But the scheme is competitive and oversubscribed in most windows. This guide walks you through every step of a winning application.

FETF 2026: What has changed

The 2026 FETF round consolidated previous productivity and animal health items into a streamlined list. Solar PV remains eligible under the “energy efficiency” category. The maximum eligible cost per item has increased. New for 2026: battery storage paired with solar is now eligible as a single combined item, removing the previous need for two separate applications.

Eligible solar items in 2026

Solar PV systems for agricultural use: minimum 10 kWp, maximum 500 kWp per application. Associated battery storage systems: eligible when accompanying a solar PV application. Grid connection costs: eligible up to the DNO’s quoted first principles cost.

Grant rates

Standard rate: 40% of eligible costs. There is no higher rate for small farms in the 2026 FETF round. Maximum grant per business: £100,000. Minimum grant: £1,000.

Eligibility rules you must meet before applying

Your farming business must be registered with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and have a Single Business Identifier (SBI). You must hold or have applied for a Basic Payment Scheme (or its replacement) claim. Tenanted farms need written landlord consent. The project must not have started before you receive your grant offer letter — this is strictly enforced.

The “not already started” rule

You cannot order equipment, sign contracts or begin site works before receiving your FETF grant offer. Getting preliminary quotes from installers is fine — signing a contract is not. Many farmers lose their application because an eager installer begins groundworks.

Evidence you need to submit

FETF applications are submitted through the Rural Payments service online. For solar PV you will need: three competitive quotes from MCS-accredited installers, a recent energy bill to evidence on-farm use, a basic site plan showing the proposed installation, and a brief statement of the energy and carbon benefit.

How applications are scored and prioritised

FETF uses a random selection process in oversubscribed rounds — not a scoring process. This means a well-prepared application does not get prioritised over a poorly prepared one. What matters is eligibility and evidence quality. Applications with missing documents are rejected before the selection process runs.

How to maximise your chance of success

Apply in the first week the window opens — late applications are included in the selection pool but earlier applications are processed first for eligibility checks. Use an installer who has written FETF supporting statements before. Submit the application yourself via RPA online — third-party application agents add cost and are not required.

Conclusion

FETF is not a points-scored grant — it is a lottery among eligible applicants. Your job is to be clearly eligible, provide complete evidence, and submit on day one of the window. Work with an MCS-accredited installer who understands the rules and can produce compliant quotes quickly.

Related reading

• All Farm Solar Grants — Every available grant scheme for UK farm solar.
• Grant Eligibility Checker — See which grants your farm qualifies for.
• SFI + Farm Solar — Stack SFI on top of FETF for the best economics.
• Agricultural Solar Costs — Full cost breakdown to build your FETF business case.

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