Smart Export Guarantee Rates UK: What Can Solar Owners Earn in 2026?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays solar panel owners for renewable electricity exported to the grid. As of 3 August 2026, advertised UK export rates range from around 3p per kilowatt-hour on basic tariffs to 25p per kilowatt-hour on premium offers. However, the highest rates usually require you to buy solar panels or battery storage from the supplier, use its import tariff or meet other eligibility conditions.
This guide explains current Smart Export Guarantee rates, how much you could earn, which tariff type may suit your household and what to check before switching. It is intended for existing solar owners, people planning an installation, battery owners, landlords and EV drivers.
Quick answer
The best Smart Export Guarantee rate is not necessarily the highest advertised rate. Premium tariffs currently pay up to 25p/kWh, but these offers are normally tied to a supplier-installed solar and battery package. More accessible tariffs for customers willing to switch their electricity supply commonly pay around 12p–15p/kWh, while open export-only tariffs can pay approximately 3p–6p/kWh.
Compare the export rate alongside the supplier’s import price, contract length, battery rules, payment frequency and installation conditions. For a home exporting 2,000kWh annually, the difference between 4p/kWh and 15p/kWh is £220 a year.
Current Smart Export Guarantee rates UK
The following figures are a market snapshot checked on 3 August 2026. Export tariffs can be withdrawn or changed, so always verify the current tariff information and eligibility rules before applying.
| Supplier and tariff example | Export rate | Main condition | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh | Solar and battery installed by Good Energy; Good Energy supply customer; 12-month term | New premium solar-and-battery installations |
| OVO SEG Install Exclusive | Up to 20p/kWh | OVO-installed solar and battery; OVO electricity supply | New OVO installations |
| EDF Export Exclusive 12m V3 | 18p/kWh | Eligible solar, battery or both purchased through EDF | New EDF-linked installations |
| E.ON Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | Qualifying E.ON installation; 12-month fixed term | New E.ON installations |
| EDF Export 12m | 15p/kWh | Existing EDF electricity customer | Existing systems willing to use EDF |
| E.ON Next Export Exclusive v3 | 13p/kWh | E.ON import customer; time-of-use exclusions apply | Existing residential systems |
| Good Energy Solar Savings | 12p/kWh | Good Energy electricity customer | Existing solar owners |
| Octopus Outgoing | 12p/kWh | Octopus import customer | Solar, EV and smart-tariff households |
| British Gas Export Premium | 12p/kWh | British Gas electricity customer; system up to 15kW | Existing domestic installations |
| Open-access tariff examples | Around 3p–6p/kWh | Usually no requirement to switch import supplier | Households keeping an attractive import deal |
The market has two broad tiers. The first contains exclusive tariffs designed for customers who buy equipment or electricity from the same company. The second contains open or less restrictive SEG tariffs. These are easier to access but often pay considerably less.
A premium export rate should never be assessed in isolation. Paying thousands of pounds more for an installation rarely makes sense purely to obtain a temporary export-rate uplift.
Suggested visual: A horizontal graphic comparing exclusive, supplier-linked and open-access export tariffs.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The SEG requires participating electricity suppliers to offer eligible small-scale generators a payment above zero for measured electricity exported to the grid. Suppliers determine their own rates, payment arrangements and contract terms. Your export supplier does not legally have to be the company supplying the electricity you import.
Eligible technologies include solar PV, onshore wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion and micro-combined heat and power. Installations must be in Great Britain and have a total installed capacity no greater than 5MW, or 50kW for micro-CHP. The scheme therefore covers England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
A typical domestic solar applicant will need:
- An MCS-certified installation or recognised equivalent.
- A smart or export meter capable of recording half-hourly export.
- Proof of grid connection, normally G98 or G99 documentation.
- An export MPAN identifying electricity leaving the property.
- No second payment for the same exported electricity.
These requirements are confirmed in supplier application guidance and Ofgem’s generator rules.
Which SEG tariff is best?
Best headline rate
An exclusive tariff may suit someone already purchasing a new solar-and-battery installation from the supplier offering it. Compare the complete installed price, equipment specification, warranties and the rate that applies after the introductory period.
Best for an existing solar system
A fixed export tariff paying around 12p–15p/kWh may offer a better balance of accessibility, certainty and income than a higher offer requiring another installation purchase or a particular battery.
Best for battery owners
A time-of-use tariff can reward electricity exported during high-value periods. It is most useful when the battery, inverter and tariff can be scheduled reliably. Dynamic tariffs can also pay less at other times, so use actual half-hourly data rather than assuming the peak rate applies to every exported unit.
Best for EV owners
Compare your complete annual energy cost. A slightly lower export rate may still produce the better result when the same supplier offers significantly cheaper overnight EV charging.
Best for landlords
Prioritise straightforward administration, reliable meter communication and clear ownership of the export income. The SEG contract will normally need attention when ownership or tenancy arrangements change.
How to compare Smart Export Guarantee tariffs
Use these seven checks instead of sorting tariffs solely by pence per kilowatt-hour.
- Eligibility: Is the tariff open to everyone, import customers or customers using the supplier’s installer?
- Import cost: Could a higher electricity purchase price cancel out the extra export income?
- Fixed or variable rate: A fixed rate provides certainty; a variable rate can move up or down.
- Export timing: Flat tariffs pay one rate. Dynamic tariffs depend on when electricity reaches the grid.
- Battery conditions: Can grid-charged electricity be exported, and are particular battery brands required?
- Payment frequency: Suppliers may pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
- Rollover rate: What tariff applies when a premium fixed-term offer ends?
Solar Energy UK specifically warns that the highest export rate may not represent the best overall energy package.
How much can you earn from SEG?
Your annual payment is calculated by multiplying exported electricity by the applicable tariff rate. Export volume depends on system size, location, roof orientation, shading, household consumption and battery behaviour.
uotation.
What does solar system size mean?
Solar PV systems are rated in kilowatt peak, or kWp. This is the combined maximum rated output of the panels under standard test conditions. It is not continuous output and it is not annual generation.
A 4.5kWp array could, for example, use ten 450W panels. Actual production changes with sunlight, temperature, roof direction, pitch, shading and system losses. Panels still generate on cloudy days, but output is much higher in brighter months.
The inverter has a separate rating. Your quotation should clearly show panel capacity, inverter capacity and expected monthly and annual generation.
How to choose the right solar system size
1. Start with annual electricity use
Find the kilowatt-hours used over the last 12 months on your bills or smart-meter account. Do not use your monthly direct debit, which is a payment amount rather than an energy measurement.
The aim is not necessarily to generate exactly the same amount you consume annually. Solar production peaks during daylight, while many homes use most electricity in the evening. A system can export at midday and still import after sunset.
2. Consider when you use power
Solar is usually most valuable when used directly. Working from home, daytime appliance use, an immersion diverter, battery, heat pump or daytime EV charging may increase self-consumption.
Surplus electricity can earn Smart Export Guarantee payments. However, suppliers set their own rates, terms and eligibility conditions, so compare tariffs rather than assuming one fixed export price.
3. Assess the roof properly
A south-facing, unshaded roof is ideal, but east- and west-facing roofs can still perform well and spread generation across the day. Energy Saving Trust estimates they typically produce around 15–20% less than an equivalent south-facing system. Chimneys, trees, dormers and neighbouring buildings can also reduce output.
A survey should confirm usable dimensions, structure, cable routes and seasonal shading. Optimisers or microinverters may help with complex shading or multiple roof directions, but should be specified for a clear reason.
4. Include future demand
Tell the installer about likely EVs, heat pumps, extensions, air conditioning or a move towards electric cooking and hot water.
For an EV, annual mileage, vehicle efficiency and whether the car is home during daylight all matter. For a heat pump, remember that solar output is lowest during winter when heating demand is highest. Ask for monthly generation figures, not only an annual total.
5. Compare right-sized and maximum-roof options
Scaffolding, design and electrical work are partly fixed costs, so adding panels during the original installation may offer better value than returning later. Maximising a good roof can make sense when demand will grow, export rates are attractive or storage may be added.
But panels on heavily shaded or poor roof sections may add little value. Ask for two modelled options: a right-sized array and the maximum sensible array, each showing generation, self-consumption, export and financial assumptions.
Do I need a solar battery?
A battery does not decide the panel size, but it can increase the proportion of solar used at home by storing daytime surplus for later. Energy Saving Trust currently estimates typical battery-storage costs at around £5,000–£8,000.
Match storage to daily surplus and evening demand. Check usable capacity, charge and discharge power, warranty, backup capability and inverter compatibility. A battery can often be added later, but planning for it now may prevent duplicated equipment or labour.
Typical UK solar costs and value
| Annual electricity exported | At 4p/kWh | At 12p/kWh | At 15p/kWh | At 20p/kWh | At 25p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000kWh | £40 | £120 | £150 | £200 | £250 |
| 2,000kWh | £80 | £240 | £300 | £400 | £500 |
| 3,000kWh | £120 | £360 | £450 | £600 | £750 |
A household exporting 2,000kWh at 15p/kWh would receive £300. At 4p/kWh, the same export would earn £80.
SEG income should be added to avoided import costs when estimating solar payback. Using solar electricity directly can often be more valuable than exporting it because households generally pay more to buy electricity than they receive for exporting it.
The exception may be a carefully managed smart tariff where electricity can be purchased cheaply during off-peak periods while solar or stored energy is exported at a higher rate.
A property survey is required for an accurate quotation and savings estimate. Generic calculators cannot fully account for shading, inverter limits, household demand patterns, DNO export restrictions or future tariff changes.
Suggested visual: An annual solar value diagram separating self-consumption savings, battery savings and SEG income.
Does the Smart Export Guarantee work in winter?
Yes, although solar generation and export are normally lower during winter.
Battery owners may have more unused storage capacity in darker months. Certain tariffs can create opportunities to charge at a cheaper time and discharge during a higher-priced export period, where the supplier’s rules permit this.
Assess any solar and battery proposal using a full 12-month generation model rather than summer performance alone.
Can you add a battery later?
A battery can usually be added to an existing solar installation, subject to inverter compatibility, available space, electrical design and DNO requirements.
Battery storage can increase solar self-consumption and enable timed export, but it does not automatically shorten the system’s payback period. Compare:
- Installed battery cost.
- Usable rather than advertised capacity.
- Round-trip efficiency.
- Cycle and product warranties.
- Compatible export tariffs.
- Expected replacement period.
How to choose and apply for an SEG tariff
- Collect your MCS certificate, DNO documentation, inverter details and system capacity.
- Confirm that your smart meter can record half-hourly export.
- Obtain or request your export MPAN.
- Download 12 months of import and export data where available.
- Estimate how much electricity you are likely to export.
- Shortlist only the tariffs for which you qualify.
- Compare combined import costs and export income.
- Check the contract term, payment method and rollover rate.
- Keep dated evidence of your opening export-meter reading.
You can choose an SEG provider separately from your import supplier, although combining them may unlock a higher rate.
Feed-in Tariff customers can generally retain their FIT generation payments while opting out of FIT export and moving to SEG. However, deemed export arrangements may not be available again after moving to measured export, so compare both options carefully before changing.
Why the installer matters
SEG income begins with a compliant, properly designed installation. Poor panel positioning, avoidable shading, incorrect inverter settings, unsuitable battery configuration or undersized cabling can reduce generation and export.
Missing MCS certificates or DNO documentation can also delay export registration and payment. Application delays involving export MPANs are a recurring concern among solar owners.
A competent installer should:
- Model annual generation and self-consumption.
- Explain any DNO export limitation.
- Size the inverter and battery correctly.
- Confirm monitoring and tariff compatibility.
- Supply the MCS certificate and handover documents.
- Explain warranties, maintenance and expected degradation.
- Avoid using a temporary premium tariff to disguise an overpriced system.
Book a free home survey: Simple Green Energy can assess your roof, consumption profile, battery options and likely SEG eligibility before providing a property-specific quotation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Clear answers about the Smart Export Guarantee, SEG rates, import and export suppliers, smart meters, MCS certification, eligible technologies, Northern Ireland and Feed-in Tariffs. Speak to Simple Green Energy .
Want to register for the Smart Export Guarantee?
Speak with Simple Green Energy about your export meter, MCS documents, supplier options, expected export volume and whether your renewable-energy system meets the SEG requirements.
Review my SEG optionsConclusion:
The best Smart Export Guarantee tariff is the highest-paying offer you can genuinely access without increasing your overall energy or installation costs.
Premium rates of 17.5p–25p/kWh may provide strong value for qualifying new installations. Existing solar owners may find tariffs around 12p–15p/kWh more realistic, while open export-only deals provide flexibility but commonly pay less.
Compare import and export together, model a complete year and check what happens after any introductory period. Solar should create value primarily by reducing the electricity you purchase; SEG income provides an additional return.
Speak with a Simple Green Energy adviser to receive a system-specific solar, battery and SEG savings estimate.
