Farm Solar Grant Calendar 2026

UK farm solar grants are time-bound. The biggest scheme, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), runs one annual window in February-March. Welsh Farm Business Grant Energy runs four quarterly windows. Scottish CARES is continuously open but underwrites in 6-8 week cycles. Northern Ireland DAERA runs one spring window. SFI is continuously open. Miss the FETF window in 2026 and you're waiting until 2027 for £40,000 of grant on a typical 100kW installation.

This calendar shows every farm solar grant window in 2026, plus the preparation work that needs to happen before the window opens to land a successful application. We have a 92% approval rate on FETF, 94% on Welsh FBG-E, 91% on Scottish CARES, 93% on NI DAERA — but only when the preparation is done in advance.

Month-by-month grant calendar

Pre-application preparation checklist

Most rejected grant applications fail at the eligibility stage rather than scoring. Have these ready before the window opens:

1. 1. SBI / CPH / business ID — your single business identifier (Single Business Identifier in England, similar in devolved nations). Verify it's active and matches grant scheme records.
2. 2. Twelve months of half-hourly meter data — required to prove energy consumption baseline. Order from your supplier 4 weeks ahead if not already collected.
3. 3. Structural roof survey — confirms the building can take panel weight. Required for grant scoring on most schemes.
4. 4. Asbestos cement report — if your barn is 1960s-1980s, get an ACM test ahead of application. Asbestos removal often funded as part of the project.
5. 5. DNO connection budget enquiry — submit to your local DNO 6 weeks before grant application. Some schemes require confirmed grid capacity at application.
6. 6. Planning pre-application — if your project might fall outside permitted development (ground-mount, AONB, listed building), submit a planning pre-app 8 weeks before grant application.
7. 7. Three-year accounts — most grant schemes require evidence of trading viability. Have last three filed accounts ready.
8. 8. Match funding evidence — proof of funds for the 60% you're providing alongside the 40% grant. Bank statement, finance agreement in principle, or capital allowance confirmation.

How grants stack with tax relief

UK farm solar grants stack with tax allowances. A typical 100kW installation costing £70,000 gross with capital grants at 25–40% (£28,000 grant) leaves £42,000 net. That £42,000 then qualifies for 100% Annual Investment Allowance against farm profits, delivering a further £10,500 of corporation tax saving (assumes 25% CT). Total support: £38,500 of £70,000 cost (55%). Pure cash-out to the farm: £31,500.

This stacking is legal and standard practice — no anti-avoidance rules apply. The grant is treated as a capital contribution that reduces the cost basis for capital allowance claims.

Scoring tips by scheme

• FETF: Score boosters — first 10 working days of window, agricultural diversification angle, women in agriculture, new entrant farmer, environmental net gain.
• Welsh FBG-E: Score boosters — Farming Connect mentoring engagement, sustainability commitments, integration with broader farm plan, Welsh language site presence.
• Scottish CARES + Sustainable Production: Score boosters — islands/remote rural, integration with wind/hydro, community benefit element, biodiversity ground cover.
• NI DAERA: Score boosters — high-baseload livestock or poultry, ammonia mitigation co-benefit, energy security narrative, integration with broader Farm Business Improvement Scheme.
• SFI Pollinator + Solar: Score boosters — wildflower seed mix specification, hedgerow management plan, biodiversity baseline survey, monitoring commitment.

Related reading

• • Full grants overview — FETF, FBG, CARES, DAERA, SFI
• • 5-question eligibility checker
• • Pricing — gross and net costs by system size
• • Finance options if you don't qualify for grants