Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): Get Paid for Your Solar

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) replaced the old Feed-in Tariff in 2020. It requires licensed electricity suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer a tariff for small-scale renewable electricity exports.

In simple terms: when your solar panels generate more electricity than you use, the surplus flows back to the grid and your supplier pays you for it.

SEG rates vary by supplier and tariff type:

• Fixed-rate SEG: 4–8p per kWh exported. Predictable and easy to budget. • Variable/agile SEG: Rates change every 30 minutes based on wholesale prices. Can be higher (10–15p+) during peak demand or lower (1–3p) at quiet times. • Flux-style tariffs: Some suppliers (like Octopus Flux) combine cheap import rates with premium export rates, designed specifically for solar + battery homes.

For a typical 4 kWp system exporting about 1,800 kWh per year, a fixed 6p/kWh SEG earns roughly £108/year. With a variable tariff and smart battery management, this can rise to £200–£300/year.

To receive SEG payments, you need:

1. MCS certification — Your installation must be MCS-certified (all our installations are). 2. Smart meter — You need a smart meter that records exports. Your supplier will install one for free if you don’t have one. 3. SEG registration — Sign up with your chosen supplier. You are not limited to your current electricity supplier.

We help you with the registration process as part of our handover service.

The best financial strategy is to use as much of your solar electricity as possible (since using 1 kWh saves you 24p, while exporting it earns only 4–8p). A battery helps significantly with this.

Smart strategies include:

• Running high-consumption appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) during peak solar hours. • Pre-heating your hot water cylinder during the day. • Charging your EV from solar. • Using a battery to shift solar to evening use. • Choosing a time-of-use tariff that rewards flexibility.