SEG Tariff Comparison UK: Best Solar Export Rates in 2026

Sources: current supplier pages and Solar Energy UK’s tariff league table.

How does the Smart Export Guarantee work?

The Smart Export Guarantee is a Great Britain scheme under which electricity suppliers pay eligible small-scale generators for electricity exported to the grid.

Eligible technologies include:

• Solar photovoltaic panels
• Onshore wind
• Hydroelectric systems
• Anaerobic digestion
• Micro-combined heat and power

Most technologies qualify with an installed capacity of up to 5MW. Micro-CHP systems are limited to 50kW. You are paid for measured electricity exported to the grid, not the electricity consumed inside your property.

The scheme guarantees eligible generators access to an export tariff. It does not guarantee a high minimum price. Suppliers set their own rates, contract lengths, payment cycles and qualification rules.

Ofgem says the competitive market is intended to encourage innovative tariffs and smarter use of renewable generation and battery storage.

Which SEG tariff is best?

Best headline rate

Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive pays 25p/kWh for 12 months, provided the customer meets its installation and electricity-supply conditions. It is most relevant to somebody considering a new solar-and-battery installation rather than an existing system owner shopping for an export-only deal.

Best fixed rate for many existing-system owners

E.ON Next Export Exclusive v3 pays qualifying E.ON electricity customers 13p/kWh for 12 months. Certain time-of-use import tariffs, including Next Drive, are excluded, so EV owners should compare the value of their cheaper charging rate before changing tariffs.

Best straightforward variable choices

Octopus, Good Energy, British Gas, OVO and ScottishPower publish qualifying supply-customer rates around 12p/kWh.

These offers look similar, but the import prices, standing charges, contract rules and customer eligibility may be different. The best tariff is the one that produces the lowest total annual energy cost after imports and exports are considered together.

Best for flexible battery export

Octopus Prime Outgoing pays 16p/kWh between 4pm and 7pm and 9p/kWh at other times. It may suit a household that can store surplus solar energy and export it during the evening peak.

However, exporting stored electricity is not automatically more profitable than using it in your home. You must compare the export payment with the cost of replacing that electricity later.

Fixed, variable or time-of-use?

A fixed export tariff pays an agreed amount for a defined term. It makes export income easier to forecast, although the rate offered at renewal could be lower.

A variable export tariff can rise or fall. These tariffs may provide more flexibility, but households should not assume the joining rate will continue indefinitely.

A time-of-use tariff pays different rates at different times of day. A dynamic tariff may follow wholesale market prices. These deals can reward well-timed battery exports but require closer monitoring.

Do not assume the most complicated tariff is the most profitable. Compare:

• Your realistic export pattern
• Battery charging and discharging losses
• Compatible import tariffs
• Standing charges
• Contract length
• Exit conditions
• The rate available after a promotion ends

Online customer discussions commonly raise concerns about export-rate reductions and slow application processing. Keep copies of your documents and follow up promptly when an export MPAN or meter issue delays registration.

How much can you earn from SEG?

Your annual export income is calculated as:

Electricity exported in kWh × export rate in pounds

roughly 400–450W. A roof survey is required before quotation.

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