Guide to Solar Export Tariffs for UK Properties

A solar PV system can reduce what you buy from the grid from its first day of operation. But when your panels generate more electricity than your property can use, that surplus has a value too. This guide to solar export tariffs explains how you can be paid for it, what affects the return and how to make decisions that support the performance of your whole system.

For homeowners and businesses across Essex, Kent and Sussex, export payments should be treated as one part of the financial case for solar - not the only one. The greatest saving usually comes from using your own solar electricity instead of purchasing it at your normal import rate. A well-designed system, with the right approach to battery storage and electricity use, helps you do both.

What are solar export tariffs?

A solar export tariff pays you for each unit of electricity your solar PV system sends to the public grid. In Great Britain, most households and eligible small businesses receive these payments through the Smart Export Guarantee, commonly called SEG.

SEG requires larger electricity suppliers to offer at least one export tariff to eligible generators. Suppliers can set their own rates, contract terms and eligibility criteria, so offers vary. Some pay a fixed amount for every kilowatt-hour exported. Others provide a rate that changes by time of day, which can be useful if your system can export at higher-value periods.

This is different from the Feed-in Tariff scheme. Feed-in Tariff payments are closed to new applicants, although properties already registered on the scheme may continue to receive payments under their existing arrangements. New solar owners should normally consider SEG tariffs rather than expect Feed-in Tariff income.

Who can receive SEG payments?

To access a Smart Export Guarantee tariff, your installation generally needs to meet several practical requirements. The solar PV system must usually be installed by an MCS-certified installer, or an equivalent recognised standard where applicable. You will need an export meter capable of recording half-hourly export readings, which is commonly a smart meter configured correctly for export.

Your supplier will also ask for evidence such as your MCS certificate, DNO approval where required and meter details. The precise application process differs between suppliers, but accurate documentation from the installation stage makes it much more straightforward.

For commercial and industrial sites, the position can be more complex. Export capacity, metering arrangements, generation size and the electricity supply contract can all affect the options available. A site exporting at scale may need a more tailored route than a domestic SEG tariff. This is worth considering before the system design is finalised, rather than after panels are on the roof.

Why MCS certification matters

MCS is not simply a badge. It provides an independently recognised framework for the design and installation of small-scale renewable technologies. For solar customers, it is commonly central to accessing export tariffs and gives confidence that the system has been installed to expected technical standards.

Choosing an accredited installer also helps ensure that handover documentation, commissioning information and system details are in order. These are the details that can otherwise delay an export tariff application.

How export payments are calculated

Export income is based on the electricity that leaves your property, measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh. If a tariff pays 15p per kWh and you export 1,000 kWh in a year, the export payment would be £150. Your actual export will depend on your generation, your daytime demand and whether you use a battery.

A south-facing roof with minimal shading may produce significant generation, but export is not just a question of panel output. A family working from home, a business operating through daylight hours or an EV charging during sunny periods can use a greater share of generation on site. That reduces export volume but often increases total savings, because avoided import electricity may be worth more than the export payment.

This is the essential trade-off. Maximising exported units is not always the same as maximising financial benefit. The right strategy depends on your import tariff, export tariff, daily load profile and plans for battery storage or electric vehicle charging.

Fixed versus time-of-use export tariffs

A fixed export tariff offers certainty: each exported kWh receives the same payment, regardless of when it is exported. This can suit property owners who want a simple, predictable arrangement and do not intend to manage their energy use actively.

Time-of-use export tariffs pay different rates at different times. At certain periods, export may be more valuable. These tariffs can be attractive for customers with a battery, particularly where the battery and inverter can be configured to respond intelligently to tariff windows. However, higher headline rates can come with conditions, lower rates at other times or a requirement to take the supplier's import tariff as well.

Before switching, examine the complete picture. Consider the rate paid at every relevant time, standing charges, import rates, contract flexibility and whether the tariff works with your equipment and lifestyle. A tariff that looks impressive in a single advert may not be the most cost-effective option over a full year.

Does a battery increase export income?

A battery can improve the value you gain from solar, but not always by increasing your export payments. Its most common role is to store surplus solar generation for use later in the day, reducing the electricity you need to buy after the sun has gone down. For many properties, this is a more reliable financial benefit than exporting every spare unit immediately.

With the right tariff and controls, a battery may also support more strategic exporting. For example, some customers may charge from solar or, where appropriate, low-cost grid electricity and export during higher-value periods. That approach needs careful system design, compatible equipment and a clear understanding of tariff terms. Suppliers may have rules around battery charging and export eligibility, especially where grid-charged electricity is involved.

Battery storage also brings benefits that sit outside tariff income. It can improve self-consumption, provide greater control over energy use and, with suitable backup equipment, help protect selected circuits during a power cut. The best solution is tailored to the property rather than based on export rates alone.

How to improve the value of your solar generation

Start with an accurate design. Panel orientation, roof space, shading, inverter sizing and your typical electricity demand all influence system performance. Oversizing a system simply to create more export may not deliver the best return if much of that energy is paid at a comparatively low rate.

Next, shift flexible electricity use into solar hours where practical. Running appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and heat pump cycles during the day can increase self-consumption. For EV owners, scheduled charging can make a meaningful difference, especially when the vehicle is regularly at home during daylight hours.

A monitoring platform is equally useful. It shows how much the system generates, uses, stores and exports, helping you spot patterns over time. A system producing well but exporting more than expected may benefit from revised battery settings, timed loads or a review of the electricity tariff.

Finally, maintain the system properly. Solar PV is low maintenance, but output can be affected by faults, inverter issues, damaged components or changes in shading. Professional checks and responsive aftercare protect generation and help ensure the figures you see on your export statement reflect a healthy system.

Questions to ask before choosing an export tariff

The most useful questions are practical ones. Does the tariff require you to take your import supply from the same company? Is your smart meter registered and configured to measure export correctly? Are payments made monthly, quarterly or annually? Can you leave without a penalty? And if you have, or plan to add, a battery, do the tariff rules suit how you expect to operate it?

It is also sensible to check whether a supplier accepts your system type and capacity. Most standard domestic installations will fit comfortably within SEG arrangements, but businesses, larger properties and sites with multiple technologies should verify requirements before committing.

Make export part of a stronger energy plan

Solar export tariffs offer a useful additional income stream, but they are most effective when considered alongside the rest of your energy strategy. A premium solar PV system designed around your property's demand can cut imported electricity, earn for genuine surplus generation and leave room for future battery or EV charging upgrades.

At Angus Renewables, we take a tailored view of every installation: how the building uses energy now, how it may change and where solar generation will deliver the strongest long-term value. A clear system design and the right metering arrangements give you the confidence to choose an export tariff that supports your investment, rather than letting the tariff dictate it.