The Smart Export Guarantee, simplified — getting paid for your solar
The Smart Export Guarantee is the UK scheme that requires large suppliers to pay small-scale generators for exported electricity. Rates vary 1-15p/kWh by supplier — and for larger commercial installs, bespoke export deals often pay materially more.
What the SEG is
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK scheme that obliges all large electricity suppliers to offer export tariffs to small-scale generators (under 5MW capacity). It replaced the Feed-in Tariff for new installations from 1 January 2020.
How it works in practice
You need an SEG-licensed supplier, export-capable metering, and (typically) an MCS-certified installation.
What the tariffs look like
SEG tariffs vary materially by supplier: low-end fixed (1-3p/kWh), competitive fixed (5-8p/kWh), smart/variable (8-15p/kWh), and bundled with import. Shopping for the right SEG deal can move solar return by 10-20%.
When bespoke export deals beat SEG
For larger commercial solar — typically above 200-300kW — bespoke supplier purchase agreements, PPAs, corporate PPAs and virtual PPAs often outperform SEG.
Bottom line
The SEG is the floor, not the ceiling. For small commercial solar, the best SEG deal usually wins. For larger installs, a bespoke arrangement often pays back many times over.
The Smart Export Guarantee, simplified — getting paid for your solar — quick questions
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