How Much Can I Earn Exporting Solar Electricity? UK Guide
If your solar panels generate more electricity than your home uses, the surplus normally flows to the grid. With a suitable export tariff, you can be paid for every measured kilowatt-hour (kWh) you send back.
For a typical UK home, export income is often around £100 to £500 a year, although results vary. The key figures are how many kWh you export and the rate paid for each unit.
This guide explains Smart Export Guarantee payments, realistic earnings, tariff choices and how to improve your overall return. It is for prospective and existing solar owners, including battery and EV households.
Get a free solar and battery assessment from Simple Green Energy to estimate generation, self-consumption, export income and long-term bill savings for your property.
Quick answer
A household exporting 2,000kWh of solar electricity a year would earn £120 at 6p/kWh, £240 at 12p/kWh or £350 at 17.5p/kWh.
Premium tariffs can pay more, but they often require you to buy electricity from the same supplier, use an approved smart meter or have had the solar panels and battery installed by that supplier.
Export payments are not automatic: you must apply for an eligible tariff. Ofgem requires Smart Export Guarantee tariffs to pay more than zero, with payments calculated from measured exports. – What solar export payments are
- Current UK export tariff examples
- How to calculate your earnings
- Realistic annual earnings
- What affects export income
- Solar batteries and smart export
- Choosing the right tariff
- Costs, savings and payback
- Why installation quality matters
- Final recommendation
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The Smart Export Guarantee, or SEG, requires certain electricity suppliers in Great Britain to offer payment for eligible low-carbon electricity exported to the grid.
Suppliers choose their own rates, contract terms and eligibility rules, so there is no single government-set export price. SEG applies in England, Scotland and Wales; arrangements differ in Northern Ireland. need an eligible renewable system, evidence such as an MCS certificate and a meter capable of recording exported electricity. Your supplier may arrange an export MPAN to identify the export supply.
Signing up is essential because unused electricity can otherwise be exported without payment. solar export tariff examples
Rates and conditions change frequently. The examples below were checked on 3 August 2026 and show why headline rates must be read alongside eligibility rules.
| Supplier example | Export rate | Main condition or best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Outgoing | 12p/kWh fixed; Prime pays 16p from 4pm–7pm and 9p otherwise | Straightforward export or battery owners able to shift exports |
| Good Energy Solar Savings | 12p/kWh standard; 25p/kWh exclusive for 12 months | Highest rate restricted to qualifying Good Energy solar-and-battery installations |
| E.ON Next | 6p flexible, 13p exclusive or 17.5p premium | Higher rates require E.ON supply and, for premium, an eligible E.ON installation |
| OVO | 12p/kWh Beyond Exclusive or up to 20p/kWh Install Exclusive | Requires OVO supply; top rate requires an OVO solar-and-battery installation |
| British Gas | 12p/kWh for electricity customers; 3p/kWh standard non-customer rate | Variable option where the rate depends on your supply relationship |
Supplier information: a tariff on export rate alone. Compare import prices, standing charges, exit terms, battery compatibility and the premium period.
A high export rate can be poor value if the associated import deal costs more.
How to calculate solar export earnings
Use this formula:
Annual export income = exported electricity in kWh × export rate in pounds
For example, 2,400kWh exported at 12p/kWh produces:
2,400 × £0.12 = £288 a year
Estimate exported electricity by subtracting power used directly or stored from predicted annual generation.
A 3.5kWp UK system may generate roughly 3,000–3,700kWh a year, but output varies according to location, roof direction, pitch, shading, equipment and system losses. ould you earn each year?
These are illustrations rather than quotations. They assume the stated exported volume has been measured by an eligible export meter.
| Example household | Annual solar generation | Electricity exported | Example rate | Annual export income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smaller system, high daytime use | 3,000kWh | 1,200kWh | 6p/kWh | £72 |
| Typical family, moderate daytime use | 3,500kWh | 1,900kWh | 12p/kWh | £228 |
| Larger array, low daytime use | 4,500kWh | 2,700kWh | 15p/kWh | £405 |
| Solar plus battery with planned peak export | 5,200kWh | 3,000kWh | 17.5p/kWh average | £525 |
A Good Energy case study reported about £588 from 2,350kWh exported at 25p/kWh in 2024. In 2025, higher exports earned about £504 because the rate had fallen to 15p/kWh, showing that both volume and tariff matter. ts how much you earn?
1. System size and annual generation
More panel capacity creates more potential surplus only when the roof is suitable and the system is well designed.
East-west arrays may generate less electricity at noon than an equivalent south-facing array but spread production across more of the day. That can help households use more solar electricity directly.
2. How much electricity you use during daylight
Electricity used directly is not exported. However, self-consumption is often worth more than exporting because it avoids buying electricity at the full retail rate.
The objective should not necessarily be to export everything. It should be to maximise the combined value of avoided imports and export payments.
Running washing machines, dishwashers, immersion heaters and EV chargers while the panels are generating can increase self-consumption. A solar diverter can also send surplus generation to a hot-water cylinder before electricity reaches the grid.
3. Your export tariff
A household exporting 2,000kWh earns:
- £120 at 6p/kWh
- £240 at 12p/kWh
- £350 at 17.5p/kWh
Reviewing your tariff can therefore add more value than making small changes to the way your panels operate.
Check your rate at least annually and whenever a fixed or introductory period ends.
4. Battery settings
A battery usually reduces passive daytime export because it stores surplus solar for use later. That can still improve your overall savings.
On a time-of-use tariff, a compatible battery may charge cheaply and export at a higher evening rate.
Energy Saving Trust advises weighing potential battery savings against installation cost and lifespan. Battery storage systems typically cost around £5,000–£8,000, depending on their capacity and specification. battery purely because a temporary premium export tariff appears attractive. Model the expected savings across the battery’s usable life.
5. Export limits and curtailment
Your Distribution Network Operator may limit the maximum power your system can export. This is different from the total number of kWh exported over a year.
Inverter controls or a battery can keep exports within the agreed limit, which should be identified before installation.
A larger panel array may still be worthwhile when export is restricted because surplus production can be directed into a battery, EV charger, hot-water cylinder or other household loads.
6. Season and weather
Most UK solar generation occurs between spring and early autumn. Winter exports are usually much lower because days are shorter, sunlight is weaker and household demand may be higher.
Assess expected earnings over a complete year rather than using one strong summer month.
Is exporting solar electricity worth it?
Yes, provided you obtain a competitive tariff and judge export income as one part of the system’s total return.
Solar creates value through avoided grid purchases and export payments. Energy Saving Trust currently estimates that an average 3.5kWp domestic solar system costs around £6,100, while actual savings and payback depend on location, electricity use and tariffs. alone will rarely repay the full installation quickly.
A system earning £250 a year from export but also avoiding £400 of imported electricity is delivering around £650 of annual value before maintenance or finance costs.
Accurate payback modelling should include:
- Expected annual generation
- Direct solar consumption
- Exported electricity
- Import and export tariff changes
- Panel degradation
- Possible inverter replacement
- Battery performance and lifespan
- Finance costs
- Maintenance and monitoring
Domestic installations of qualifying solar panels and batteries are currently zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. ose the best solar export setup
- Model the property first. Use roof measurements, orientation, shading and local solar data to estimate annual generation.
- Analyse household demand. Half-hourly consumption data can show how much solar is likely to be used, stored or exported.
- Size the panels for future needs. Consider whether you may add an EV, heat pump, extension or home office.
- Compare total tariff cost. Assess import and export rates, standing charges and eligibility together.
- Check battery compatibility. Confirm whether the battery can follow time-of-use schedules and whether the supplier permits electricity charged from the grid to be exported.
- Confirm the paperwork. Ask who will provide the MCS certificate, DNO approval, commissioning records, warranties and export tariff support.
- Use conservative projections. Do not base a long-term investment on a temporary premium tariff.
- Request more than one quotation. Compare system design, forecast generation, warranties and aftercare rather than choosing solely on price.
Why the installer matters
Installation quality affects generation, safety, reliability and export approval. Poor array design, incorrect inverter sizing, missing certification or unsuitable battery controls can all reduce value.
A professional survey should explain:
- Expected annual solar generation
- Likely household self-consumption
- Expected annual exports
- DNO export restrictions
- Panel, inverter and battery warranties
- Monitoring and aftercare
- Assumptions behind savings and payback figures
The quotation should also distinguish between guaranteed product terms and energy tariffs that suppliers can change.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Clear answers about solar export payments, supplier rates, smart meters, export MPANs, separate import and export suppliers, winter exports, battery retrofits and tariff comparisons. Speak to Simple Green Energy .
Want to maximise your solar export payments?
Speak with Simple Green Energy about your export meter, MPAN, expected generation, household usage, battery options and the overall import-and-export tariff costs for your home.
Review my export optionsFinal recommendation
For many UK homes, a sensible planning range is £100–£500 a year in export income, with higher results possible for larger systems, low daytime consumption or well-managed batteries on favourable tariffs.
The best decision is based on total annual benefit, not simply the highest advertised pence-per-kWh rate.
Book a free home survey with Simple Green Energy for a property-specific forecast covering solar generation, battery options, likely export income, bill savings and estimated payback.
