Best Solar Export Tariff UK: Which Supplier Pays the Most in 2026?
Choosing the best solar export tariff in the UK can make a meaningful difference to the return from your solar panels. However, the supplier advertising the highest rate is not automatically the best choice for your home.
Some headline rates are reserved for customers who buy solar panels and battery storage from the supplier. Others require you to move your imported electricity to the same company. Certain tariffs pay a flat rate throughout the day, while dynamic tariffs reward households that export electricity when grid demand is highest.
This guide compares the leading solar export tariffs available in Great Britain in August 2026. It explains eligibility, potential earnings, battery considerations and how to compare your total electricity costs—not just the advertised export rate.
It is designed for homeowners with existing solar panels, households considering a new solar installation, battery owners, EV drivers, landlords and home renovators.
r, usable roof space, shading and future plans such as an electric vehicle, heat pump or battery.
For many UK households, 3.5kWp to 5kWp is a sensible starting range. A low-use home may suit 2–3kWp, while a larger or increasingly electric household may justify 6kWp or more. Energy Saving Trust currently describes an average home system as about 4.5kWp, typically around 12 panels and 20–30m² of roof area.
This guide shows how to estimate the right size, understand costs and avoid buying a generic package that does not match your property.
Get a free home solar survey: Simple Green Energy can review your roof, bills and future energy plans, then recommend a properly modelled system.
Quick answer
The highest clearly published domestic solar export rate we found in August 2026 is Good Energy’s Solar Savings Exclusive tariff at 25p per kWh. However, it is only available for 12 months to Good Energy electricity customers whose solar panels and battery were installed by Good Energy Solar.
For homeowners who already have solar panels and do not want to purchase another system, a broadly accessible tariff may provide better value. Fuse Energy pays eligible export-only customers 13p per kWh, while EDF advertises 15p per kWh for qualifying customers with existing panels.
The best overall tariff depends on your export volume, import tariff, battery, EV charging needs and eligibility—not simply the highest export rate.
Best solar export tariffs UK comparison
The earnings examples below assume that your home exports 2,000kWh per year. This is an illustration rather than a prediction: actual exports depend on system size, roof direction, shading, household consumption and battery settings.
| Supplier and tariff | Published export rate | Main eligibility or restriction | Illustrative income from 2,000kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh | Solar panels and battery installed by Good Energy; Good Energy supply customer; fixed for 12 months | £500 |
| OVO SEG Install Exclusive | Up to 20p/kWh | Solar and battery purchased through OVO; OVO supplies the home | £400 |
| So Energy So Bright Export | 20p/kWh | Premium 12-month rate; confirm installation and supply eligibility | £400 |
| E.ON Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | Qualifying E.ON installation completed from 10 November 2025; fixed for 12 months | £350 |
| EDF export tariff for existing systems | 15p/kWh | Existing solar or battery system; EDF electricity supply and smart-meter conditions apply | £300 |
| Fuse Single Rate Variable Export | 13p/kWh | Available to eligible export-only customers, including homes supplied by another company | £260 |
| E.ON Next Export Exclusive v3 | 13p/kWh | E.ON import customer; excludes certain time-of-use tariffs | £260 |
| Octopus Outgoing | 12p/kWh | Flat variable rate normally paired with a compatible Octopus import tariff | £240 |
| Good Energy Solar Savings | 12p/kWh | Good Energy electricity supply customer; variable rate | £240 |
| British Gas Export Premium | 12p/kWh | British Gas electricity customer with a qualifying system up to 15kW | £240 |
Good Energy confirms that its 25p rate is fixed for 12 months before customers move to its standard tariff, currently paying 12p. OVO advertises up to 20p for qualifying solar-and-battery installation customers, while So Energy publishes a 20p 12-month rate. E.ON’s qualifying installer-exclusive rate is 17.5p.
EDF currently advertises 15p for qualifying homes with existing systems. Fuse offers a 13p variable tariff to eligible export-only customers, including those buying their electricity elsewhere. Octopus Outgoing and British Gas Export Premium currently pay 12p under their respective eligibility rules.
What is a solar export tariff?
A solar export tariff pays you for each kilowatt-hour of surplus electricity your system sends to the grid.
Most domestic export payments in England, Scotland and Wales operate through the Smart Export Guarantee, or SEG. Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic electricity customers must offer at least one compliant export tariff, although they are free to set their own prices and conditions.
There is no government-set SEG rate. A compliant tariff must pay more than zero, but it can be fixed, variable or linked to wholesale electricity prices. Your export supplier does not normally need to be the company supplying the electricity you import.
SEG does not operate in Northern Ireland, where homeowners should ask local suppliers about available export arrangements.
Which export tariff is best for you?
| Customer type | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New solar-and-battery customer | Compare premium installer-exclusive tariffs | Rates of 17.5p–25p may be available, but compare the complete installation price and post-promotional rate |
| Existing solar owner | Compare EDF, Fuse, E.ON and other broadly accessible tariffs | You may obtain a competitive rate without replacing equipment |
| Solar owner who wants simplicity | Choose a competitive flat-rate tariff | Every exported unit receives the same payment |
| Battery owner | Model flat and time-of-use tariffs | A battery can move exports into more valuable periods, subject to tariff and warranty rules |
| EV owner | Compare import and export together | Cheap overnight charging may save more than a small increase in the export rate |
| Existing Feed-in Tariff customer | Compare actual export with deemed export before changing | A higher rate per kWh does not guarantee higher total payments |
Flat-rate or dynamic export tariff?
A flat-rate tariff pays the same amount whenever you export. It is generally the easiest option for solar-only households and owners who do not want to manage battery schedules.
Dynamic tariffs use half-hourly prices or different time bands. They may pay more during periods of high electricity demand, but rates can also be lower at other times. Octopus, for example, offers Agile Outgoing alongside battery-focused Flux tariffs.
Dynamic pricing is most suitable when you have:
- Compatible battery storage
- Reliable smart-meter communication
- An inverter that supports scheduled charging and discharging
- Enough usable battery capacity
- Time or automation to manage the system
- A tariff that permits grid-charged electricity to be exported
Do not choose a dynamic tariff based solely on its highest advertised time band. Compare a complete year of imports, exports, standing charges and battery losses.
Is self-consumption better than exporting?
Usually, electricity used directly in your home is worth more than exported electricity.
For example, avoiding the purchase of one unit at approximately 25p can be more valuable than exporting it for 12p. However, a household with cheap overnight electricity and a premium export tariff may sometimes benefit from charging its battery off-peak and exporting solar generation later.
The correct strategy depends on:
- Your import and export prices
- Battery efficiency
- Battery degradation and warranty limits
- Seasonal generation
- Peak-period household use
- Export restrictions imposed by the supplier or network
Your installer should model both self-consumption and export-led operating strategies rather than assuming one approach suits every home.
How much can you earn from solar export?
Export income is calculated by multiplying the electricity exported by the tariff rate.
A household exporting 2,000kWh annually would earn:
- £240 at 12p per kWh
- £300 at 15p per kWh
- £400 at 20p per kWh
- £500 at 25p per kWh
The difference between 12p and 25p is £260 a year at this export level. However, paying thousands of pounds more for an installation solely to unlock a temporary premium tariff is unlikely to represent good value.
The Energy Saving Trust currently estimates that a typical solar installation costs around £6,100, although property-specific costs vary. It places a typical payback period at approximately 10–12 years, with stronger cases potentially paying back sooner. A detailed property survey is required before reliable costs, generation or payback figures can be provided.
How to choose the right solar export tariff
- Measure your real export volume. Check your smart meter, solar monitoring portal or existing statements. Do not compare tariffs using generation alone.
- Compare the import tariff. A 2p export improvement could be wiped out by more expensive imported electricity or a higher standing charge.
- Check the promotional period. Confirm what happens after the first 12 months and whether the replacement rate is fixed or variable.
- Read the eligibility rules. Check requirements relating to the installer, electricity supply, system size, smart meter, battery brand and installation date.
- Confirm battery-export rules. Some suppliers pay for grid-charged battery exports; others may only pay for verified renewable electricity.
- Review payment arrangements. Compare payment frequency, application times, export MPAN support and how meter problems are handled.
- Model a complete year. Solar production, household consumption and electricity prices change substantially between summer and winter.
- Check switching flexibility. Look for exit fees, fixed terms and restrictions on combining import and export tariffs.
What do you need to receive export payments?
Most applicants need:
- An eligible renewable electricity system
- An MCS certificate or recognised equivalent
- DNO connection approval, normally documented through G98 or G99
- A smart or export meter capable of half-hourly readings
- An export MPAN
- Ownership of the system or permission from its owner
- No overlapping Feed-in Tariff export payment
Government guidance confirms that applicants normally need half-hourly export metering and an MCS-certified or equivalent installation. Applications are made directly to the chosen export supplier.
What if you already receive Feed-in Tariff payments?
You can normally retain your Feed-in Tariff generation payment while moving the export element to SEG. You cannot receive both FIT export and SEG export payments for the same electricity.
Take particular care where your FIT export is deemed at 50% of generation. If you consume more than half of your solar electricity at home, moving to payment based on actual exports could reduce the number of units for which you are paid—even when the SEG unit rate is higher.
Why the solar installer matters
Export income depends on more than tariff selection. Poor system design can reduce generation for decades.
An experienced, certified installer should consider roof orientation, shading, panel layout, inverter capacity, cable losses, battery size, household load and DNO export limits. The installer should also provide your MCS certificate, connection paperwork, warranties, commissioning records and monitoring access.
Before accepting a quotation, ask for an annual generation estimate, predicted self-consumption, expected export, battery operating strategy and savings calculation. These figures should be based on your property—not a generic national example.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Clear answers about UK solar export tariffs, SEG registration, import and export suppliers, smart meters, MCS certification, export income, self-consumption and battery compatibility. Speak to Simple Green Energy .
Comparing solar export tariffs?
Speak with Simple Green Energy about your export meter, MCS documents, battery setup, supplier requirements, expected export volumes and the tariff options available for your system.
Review my export optionsFinal recommendation
The best headline solar export tariff in the UK is currently Good Energy’s 25p-per-kWh installer-exclusive offer. It may be attractive for households already considering a complete Good Energy solar-and-battery package, but it should not be selected without comparing installation costs and the tariff available after the first year.
For existing solar owners, competitive broadly accessible options such as Fuse’s 13p export-only tariff or EDF’s qualifying 15p tariff may offer better practical value. Battery and EV owners should compare their total import and export position rather than ranking tariffs by export rate alone.
Book a free home survey with Simple Green Energy to compare solar generation, battery storage, export income and long-term savings for your property.
