The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) was launched on 1st January 2020 to pay small scale renewable energy generators for any electricity exported to the grid from eligible technologies. The SEG applies to exported electricity generated by solar PV, wind, hydro, micro CHP and anaerobic digestion.
All energy suppliers with over 150,000 electricity customers are required to offer and set their own export energy tariff, with the sole requirement that it must be above £0.00/kWh. Suppliers with less than 150,000 customers can opt into the scheme. There is a large range of tariffs offered which we have compiled in the table below.
It is important to note that the energy supplier you pay for imported electricity does not have to be the same as the one you choose to pay you an export tariff.
This scheme replaces the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) which closed on 31 March 2019 and rewarded electricity generation exported to the grid, as well as that generated and used onsite. The SEG offers a lower financial incentive for onsite renewables than the FiT but is a welcome initiative, as renewables stack up financially even without subsidy, provided they are sized correctly.
Although payments under the SEG are expected to be lower than with the combined generation and export FiT, the SEG is only one of the many ways that you can benefit from onsite renewables. Onsite generation will reduce grid supplied energy costs, improve energy security and, if you are a business, will help meet corporate responsibility goals. With climate emergencies declared across local and national entities worldwide, now is a vital time to work towards net zero. Take your first step towards net zero with our software, the OnGen Expert.
|
Supplier & tariff |
Export payment (p/kWh) |
|
Octopus Energy – Outgoing Fixed |
5.5 |
|
E.On (for new customers) – Fix & Export Exclusive V1 |
5.5 |
| Bulb – Export Payments |
5.38 |
|
Octopus Energy – Panel Power |
4.0 |
| OVO – OVO SEG Tariff |
4.0 |
| ScottishPower – Smart Export Variable |
4.0 |
| SSE – Smart Export Tariff |
3.5 |
| EDF – Export + Earn |
3.5 |
| Shell Energy – SEG Tariff |
3.5 |
| Utilita – SEG Tariff |
3.0 |
| E.On (all customers) – Fix & Export V1 |
3.0 |
| Centrica/British Gas – Export and Earn Flex |
1.5 |
| Green Network Energy – SEG Tariff |
1.0 |
| Utility Warehouse – UW Smart Export Guarantee |
0.5 |
| Good Energy – Not published |
Not published |
Many sources put Social Energy at the top of the table, as they provide an export tariff at 5.6p/kWh. However, they are not obliged to provide a SEG tariff, as they are a small supplier. They’ve instead created an export tariff that is only available to Social Energy customers who have solar and a Social Energy battery.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the Smart Export Guarantee.
