Smart Export Guarantee 2026: Best Solar Export Tariffs in the UK

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK scheme that requires licensed electricity suppliers with 150,000+ customers to pay you for every kWh of solar (or wind, or hydro) you export to the grid. It replaced the closed Feed-in Tariff in January 2020, and unlike FiT it doesn't pay a generation tariff — only an export tariff. Suppliers set their own rates, so they vary enormously.

How SEG works

1. Your solar (and/or battery export) is measured by a half-hourly capable smart meter — SMETS2 or SMETS1 enrolled in the DCC.
2. Your installation must be MCS-certified (or under an equivalent recognised scheme such as Flexi-Orb). Without MCS, you can't sign up to any SEG tariff.
3. You apply to a SEG-licensed supplier for an export tariff. You don't have to use the same supplier you buy electricity from — but several of the highest-paying tariffs require it.
4. Every kWh exported is paid at the tariff rate (fixed or variable), credited to your bill or paid direct.

The 2026 league table

Fixed vs variable export rates

Fixed rates (like Octopus Outgoing Fixed, British Gas Export & Earn, EDF Export 12-month) pay the same rate for every kWh you export. Simple, predictable, set-and-forget. The right choice for solar-only households without a battery, or households that aren't going to actively manage their tariff.

Variable rates (Octopus Outgoing Agile) track the wholesale day-ahead market and change every half-hour. Average over April 2025 to April 2026 was 9.4 p/kWh — but peak slots regularly hit 25–40 p/kWh, especially 4 pm to 7 pm in winter. With a battery and automation (Home Assistant + Predbat, GivEnergy auto-export, Powerwall scheduling), you can discharge only into the most lucrative half-hours and beat the fixed rate by a meaningful margin.

Octopus Flux — discontinued for new customers

Octopus Flux (a combined import + export TOU tariff with three time bands) closed to new customers in March 2026. Existing Flux customers retain their tariff for now, but it's no longer an option to sign up. Outgoing Agile is the replacement for engaged battery owners.

Worth it for solar-only, or only with a battery?

For a typical 4 kW solar-only system in the UK, expect to export around 50–60% of generation (roughly 1,900–2,300 kWh/year of export). At Octopus Outgoing Fixed 12 p/kWh, that's £228–£276/year in export income. At the floor 4.1 p/kWh basic SEG rate, that's £78–£94/year. The difference between best and worst SEG choice is over £180/year — worth shopping for.

For a solar + battery household, self-consumption rises to 70–85% so direct export falls. But the value per exported kWh rises sharply on Outgoing Agile because the battery can time exports to peak. Net effect: similar or higher annual income with more flexibility.

What about exporting battery-only (no solar)?

Yes, this works. Charge a battery overnight from cheap import (Intelligent Octopus Go, Outgoing Agile import slots), discharge to grid at peak. Some suppliers explicitly support this (Octopus Outgoing Agile being the most common). Others restrict SEG payments to renewable-source export only — read the tariff small print.

Common SEG questions

Do I need MCS certification?

Yes, for the installation. Without MCS (or equivalent recognised scheme), no SEG supplier will sign you up. This is a hard rule from Ofgem.

Do I need a smart meter?

Yes. SEG requires a half-hourly-read meter — SMETS2 or SMETS1 enrolled in the DCC. Your supplier will arrange this if you don't already have one. Older 'dumb' meters can't be used.

Can I switch SEG tariffs?

Yes, you can switch SEG tariffs separately from your import tariff. Some bundled deals require you to switch both together; the basic SEG tariffs (Octopus, BG Flex) don't.

Is SEG income taxable?

For domestic homeowners using SEG against their primary residence, the income falls under HMRC's micro-generation exemption and is not taxable. Always check with HMRC for your own situation, especially if you're running it as a business.