What the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for
The Smart Export Guarantee is a government-backed scheme that pays solar panel owners for every unit of surplus electricity they export to the National Grid. It launched in January 2020 as the replacement for the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and requires all licensed energy suppliers with 150,000 or more customers to offer an export tariff.
The key difference from the old Feed-in Tariff is that SEG does not set a fixed rate. Suppliers compete by publishing their own export rates, so you can shop around for the best deal — and you do not have to take your export tariff from the same company that supplies your electricity. In 2026, rates typically range from around 3p to 15p per kWh depending on the supplier and whether you choose a fixed flat rate or a flexible time-of-use tariff.
For a clear, jargon-free explainer of how the scheme works end to end, see our dedicated Smart Export Guarantee guide. This page focuses on the commercial side: what you can realistically earn in 2026, which suppliers pay best, and how to get registered.
How much can you earn from SEG in 2026?
Your SEG income depends on three things: how much electricity your system generates, how much you use yourself, and the export rate you sign up to. As a rough guide based on 2026 rates of roughly 3-15p/kWh:
- 4kW system — exports around 1,200 kWh/yr, earning roughly £36-£180/yr - 6kW system — exports around 1,800 kWh/yr, earning roughly £54-£270/yr - 10kW system — exports around 3,000 kWh/yr, earning roughly £90-£450/yr
These figures are indicative — actual earnings vary with system size, household usage, export volume and the supplier tariff you choose. The single biggest lever is the rate: moving from a 3-4p flat tariff to a flexible tariff paying up to 15p at peak can multiply your export income several times over.
It is worth keeping perspective, though. Export payments are a useful bonus, but the larger saving from solar usually comes from self-consumption — every unit you use yourself avoids buying it from the grid at 24p+. The best results come from combining good self-consumption with a well-chosen export tariff, ideally backed by battery storage.
SEG tariff comparison: which suppliers pay best
SEG rates change regularly, so always confirm the latest figures directly with the supplier before signing up. As an indicative 2026 snapshot of the major UK energy suppliers:
- Octopus Energy — up to 15p/kWh, flexible (time-of-use). Best for battery owners; Agile export rates vary by half-hour and reward exporting at peak. - E.ON Next — around 5.5p/kWh, fixed flat rate. Competitive fixed rate with a simple signup. - Scottish Power — around 4p/kWh, fixed flat rate. Reliable, nationwide coverage. - British Gas — around 3.5p/kWh, fixed flat rate. Simple and stable from a large supplier. - EDF Energy — around 3p/kWh, fixed flat rate. Straightforward export payment, easy to manage.
For a household with no battery and typical daytime export, a competitive fixed rate (E.ON Next, Scottish Power) is simple and predictable. If you have, or plan to add, a battery, a flexible tariff like Octopus Agile almost always wins because you can choose when to export. We will compare current rates for your situation as part of your quote.
Are you eligible? SEG requirements explained
To qualify for SEG payments your installation needs to meet four conditions:
MCS certification (the big one). Your system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer and you need the MCS certificate as proof. Midland Solar is fully MCS accredited and issues this certificate as standard with every installation — without it, no supplier will register you for SEG.
A SMETS2 smart meter. You need a SMETS2 (second-generation) smart meter, or an approved export meter, capable of recording your export in half-hourly intervals. If you do not have one, your energy supplier will install it free of charge when you sign up for SEG.
Installed capacity of 5MW or less. Your system must be 5MW or smaller. Every residential system, and the vast majority of commercial ones, comfortably meets this.
Not on the old Feed-in Tariff. You cannot claim SEG while still receiving FiT payments. If your FiT contract has ended, you are free to switch across to SEG.
Every residential solar installation we carry out is built to meet these requirements from day one.
How a battery transforms your SEG economics
A battery is the single biggest upgrade for SEG earnings because it gives you control over when you export rather than dumping surplus to the grid at midday when rates are often lowest.
Export at peak, not midday. With a flexible time-of-use tariff such as Octopus Agile, peak windows (typically 4-7pm) pay far more than the flat 3-4p of a fixed tariff. Store your midday solar in the battery and release it at peak, and you can earn up to 15p/kWh on the same units — potentially doubling or tripling export income.
Self-consume first. A battery also lets you use more of your own solar in the evening, avoiding 24p+ grid imports, before exporting whatever is left over for the best available rate.
Review and switch. SEG rates move, and you are not tied to your electricity supplier for export. Reviewing your tariff at least annually and switching to a better payer is worth doing — we flag this for our customers as rates change.
If you are weighing up the numbers, our solar and battery packages are designed around exactly this kind of export optimisation. Book a free solar survey and we will model your likely SEG income with and without storage.
How Midland Solar gets you earning from SEG
Because every system we install is MCS-certified, it automatically qualifies for SEG payments — and we handle the parts that usually trip people up. Our SEG support includes:
- The MCS certificate provided with every installation - Guidance on choosing the best SEG tariff for your usage and whether you have a battery - SMETS2 meter coordination with your supplier so the right meter is in place - Battery storage recommendations to maximise what you earn at peak rates - SEG registration support and help with the paperwork - Ongoing advice as tariff rates change so you stay on a competitive deal
We install across the Midlands and look after the whole journey — from system design and certification through to getting you signed up and paid. To get started, request a free solar survey and we will give you a clear picture of your generation, self-consumption and likely SEG earnings before you commit.