Business Energy Grants
Hull & East Yorkshire
Every grant, tax incentive, and funding scheme available to help Hull businesses invest in commercial solar.
Avg. Home System
4 kW
Annual Savings
Up to 70%
Homes Powered
500+
500+
Installations
15MW
Capacity Installed
98%
Customer Satisfaction
10yr
Workmanship Warranty
Funding Your Commercial Solar Installation
Hull businesses have access to a unique combination of local grants, national tax incentives, and Humber Freeport benefits that can significantly reduce the net cost of commercial solar investment. This guide covers every available funding route as of 2025-2026.
When combined, these incentives can reduce the effective cost of a commercial solar installation by 30-50%, bringing payback periods to as low as 2-3 years for energy-intensive businesses.
Available Grants & Incentives
Hull Business Energy Efficiency Scheme (HBEES)
Check availabilityAmount
£1,000 - £15,000
Coverage
40% of project costs
Eligible
Hull-based SMEs
The HBEES programme provides direct grants for solar panels, LED lighting, heating systems, and EV chargers. Funded originally through ERDF, the scheme supported approximately 200 businesses in its initial run. Contact Hull City Council (business.support@hullcc.gov.uk) to confirm current availability and application windows.
Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)
Available nowAmount
100% tax deduction
Coverage
Up to £1,000,000
Eligible
All UK businesses
Deduct the full capital cost of solar PV, battery storage, and EV chargers from pre-tax profits in year one. For a business paying 25% corporation tax, a £100,000 solar system generates an immediate £25,000 tax saving.
50% First-Year Allowance
Available nowAmount
50% tax deduction
Coverage
Above AIA cap
Eligible
All UK businesses
For expenditure exceeding the £1m AIA cap, a 50% first-year allowance applies to qualifying plant and machinery including solar PV. Relevant for large-scale commercial installations.
Business Rates Exemption
Available until 2035Amount
100% exemption
Coverage
Rooftop solar installations
Eligible
All commercial properties
Since April 2023, new rooftop solar PV installations on commercial properties are 100% exempt from business rates. This exemption runs until at least March 2035, removing a previous barrier to commercial solar adoption.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
Available nowAmount
4-15p per kWh
Coverage
Surplus electricity exported
Eligible
All solar installations
Energy suppliers with 150,000+ customers must offer a tariff for exported surplus electricity. Rates vary by supplier, with the best agile tariffs reaching 15p/kWh during peak export periods. Commercial systems typically export 5-30% of generation.
Humber Freeport Incentives
Available nowAmount
Enhanced Capital Allowances + NIC relief
Coverage
Within Freeport tax zones
Eligible
Businesses in Hull East, Goole, Immingham zones
Businesses operating within Humber Freeport tax zones access additional incentives: Enhanced Capital Allowances, 0% employer NIC, business rates relief, and stamp duty relief. These stack with existing solar incentives.
Aura Innovation Centre Grants
Check availabilityAmount
Up to £30,000
Coverage
50% of innovation costs
Eligible
Humber region businesses
The University of Hull's Aura Innovation Centre at Bridgehead Business Park offers innovation grants through the Humber Innovation Support Programme. Projects combining solar with energy monitoring, storage, or EV charging may qualify.
HEY Growth Hub Funding
Check availabilityAmount
£5,000 - £250,000
Coverage
Various programmes
Eligible
Hull and East Yorkshire SMEs
Growing Places Fund grants (£5,000-£250,000) and SparkFund grants (up to £50,000) support SME investment in infrastructure including energy improvements. Solar installations that support business growth may qualify.
Combined Funding Example
A Hull SME on Sutton Fields Industrial Estate installs a 100kW commercial solar system:
How We Help With Funding
YEERS provides comprehensive support throughout the funding process:
- Grant Identification: We assess which schemes your business qualifies for and calculate the combined benefit.
- Application Support: For schemes like HBEES, we prepare the technical documentation and energy projections required for applications.
- Tax Advice Coordination: While we are not tax advisers, we provide the technical specifications and financial projections your accountant needs to process AIA claims.
- Proposal Documentation: Our commercial proposals clearly break down costs, savings, and available incentives for board-level decision making.
Funding Assessment
Let us identify which grants and incentives your business can access and model the combined financial benefit.
Start Your Project Today
Ready to reduce operational costs or improve your home's rating? Fill out the form for a free, no-obligation survey. We operate throughout Yorkshire.
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01482 765 095
Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm
Email Us
hello@yeers.co.uk
Visit HQ
Office 4, Blanket Row, Hull, HU1 1TB