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Understanding export tariffs for solar panel owners, how you get paid for exporting energy to the grid, and what rates to expect.
An export tariff is a payment you receive from your energy supplier for electricity you generate (usually from solar panels) and export back to the national grid.
If you have solar panels or another renewable energy system, you'll generate electricity during the day. When you generate more than you use, the excess flows back to the grid, and you get paid for it.
When you generate electricity:
You'll need a smart meter or an export meter to measure how much electricity you're exporting.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government scheme that requires energy suppliers to pay small-scale generators (like households with solar panels) for the electricity they export.
Under SEG:
Export rates vary by supplier and can change, but typical rates are:
This is usually lower than what you pay for electricity you import (typically 25p–35p per kWh), which makes sense because:
To get an export tariff:
You can compare export tariffs from different suppliers to find the best rate. Some suppliers offer better rates than others, and rates can change over time.
Yes, you can export to a different supplier than the one you buy electricity from. This means you can:
This gives you flexibility to get the best deal for both importing and exporting.
How much you earn depends on:
For a typical household with solar panels, you might export 1,000–2,000 kWh per year. At 5p per kWh, that's £50–£100 per year.
You don't need a battery to export electricity, but having one can help:
With a battery, you might export less but save more on your electricity bills by using your own stored energy instead of buying from the grid.
Energy Efficiency Writer
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