What is Home Energy Scotland?
Home Energy Scotland (HES) is the Scottish Government's flagship grant and loan scheme for energy efficiency improvements. It is delivered free of charge by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
Unlike English schemes, HES combines a cashback grant with an interest-free loan, meaning most homeowners can fund a complete retrofit without taking on commercial debt.
How much can you get in 2026?
The headline figures: up to £7,500 grant per qualifying measure, plus an interest-free loan of up to £7,500 to top up the cost. Rural and island households can access an additional £1,500 uplift, taking total support up to £18,000.
Heat pumps, solar PV, insulation and energy storage all qualify. Multiple measures can be combined under a single application.
Who qualifies?
You must own and live in the property, or be in the process of purchasing it. The home must be in Scotland and have a valid EPC. There is no income cap — HES is available to all Scottish homeowners.
Private landlords have a separate (and equally generous) loan scheme — see Guide 06.
How to apply
Step 1: Call HES on 0808 808 2282 for a free, impartial advice call. Step 2: Receive a tailored Home Energy Report. Step 3: Get installer quotes from MCS-certified firms. Step 4: Submit your funding application before work begins.
Approval takes 4–8 weeks. Funds are paid on completion against installer invoices.
Avoid grant scams
Home Energy Scotland never cold-calls, texts or door-knocks. The only legitimate route is to contact HES directly on 0808 808 2282 or via homeenergyscotland.co.uk.
Always verify your installer is MCS-certified (mcscertified.com) for heat pumps and renewables, or TrustMark-registered (trustmark.org.uk) for insulation and other works. Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to repay the grant portion?+
No. The grant is cashback that does not need to be repaid. Only the loan top-up is repayable, and it is interest-free over up to 12 years.
Can I apply if I've already started work?+
No. Applications must be approved before installation begins. Retrospective applications are rejected.
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