Compare Solar Export Tariffs UK 2026 — Which Pays Most?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK scheme that pays you for unused solar electricity exported to the grid. Headline rates run from 12p to 25p per kWh in 2026, but eligibility rules and bundling requirements mean the highest-paying tariff for the next household isn't always the one for you. We compare every active SEG tariff with real eligibility detail and a worked annual earnings calculation.
Best SEG Rates Ranked, April 2026
Headline export rates ordered highest to lowest. The four headline-leading tariffs (Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive, EDF Export Exclusive 12m V2, OVO Solar & Battery Install Exclusive and EDF Export Exclusive 12m) all require the supplier to install your PV or battery — they're not open to existing-system households.
| Supplier | Tariff | Rate (p/kWh) | Type | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy | Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p | Fixed 12 m | Solar & battery installed by Good Energy |
| EDF Energy | Export Exclusive 12m V2 | 24p | Fixed 12 m | Solar installed after 1 Apr 2025 by Contact Solar |
| OVO Energy | Solar & Battery Install Exclusive | 20p | Variable | Solar & battery installed by OVO |
| EDF Energy | Export Exclusive 12m | 20p | Fixed 12 m | Solar installed before 31 Mar 2025 by Contact Solar |
| E.ON Next | Next Export Premium v3 | 17.5p | Fixed 12 m | Solar or battery installed by E.ON |
| British Gas | Export and Earn Plus | 15.1p | Variable | British Gas import customer (any installer) |
| Good Energy | Solar Savings (open) | 15p | Variable | Good Energy import customer (any installer) |
| EDF Energy | Export 12m | 15p | Fixed 12 m | EDF import customer (any installer) |
| OVO Energy | Solar Install SEG | 15p | Variable | Solar installed by OVO (no import switch) |
| ScottishPower | SmartGen Premium Plus | 15p | Variable | Solar/battery installed by ScottishPower |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Octopus | 12p | Variable | Octopus import customer (any installer) — cut from 15p Mar 2026 |
| Octopus Energy | Octopus Flux (TOU) | 29.32p peak / 4.99p off-peak | Variable / TOU | Battery essential. Closed to new customers since Mar 2026. |
Source: BestBuilders SEG tariff scrape, refreshed 1 April 2026 (Octopus Outgoing 25 April 2026). All rates exclude VAT (SEG payments are VAT-exempt for domestic customers).
Why the Top of the Table Isn't Open to You
The top four rates in the table all carry an installer-bundling clause. Suppliers can offer well-above-market export rates only because they're cross-subsidising from the install margin. If you already have solar (or want a different installer), your real shortlist is the Open SEG tier from 12p to 15.1p:
- British Gas Export and Earn Plus (15.1p) — highest open rate but requires you to be a British Gas import customer.
- Good Energy Solar Savings open (15p) — same import-customer condition with Good Energy.
- EDF Export 12m (15p) — 12-month fix versus the variable rates above. EDF import customer required.
- OVO Solar Install SEG (15p) — the rare "solar-install bundling without an import switch" option.
- Octopus Outgoing (12p) — the Octopus rate dropped from 15p to 12p on 1 March 2026, falling out of the lead.
Octopus Flux — Still Best for Time-of-Use Households
Octopus Flux is a tariff with three time-of-use export rates: 29.32p per kWh on peak (4pm to 7pm), 4.99p off-peak (2am to 5am) and 10.11p the rest of the day. It is closed to new customers since March 2026, but if you are already on it, it remains the highest-yielding SEG tariff for any household with a battery that can shift export to the peak window. Modelled annual earnings on a 5kWh battery with smart export scheduling are around £520 to £640, vs £220 to £300 on a flat 15p tariff.
How Much Will You Actually Earn?
For a typical UK 4 kWp solar PV array generating 3,800 kWh per year, with 50% self-consumption and 1,900 kWh exported, here is the annual SEG payment by tariff:
| Tariff | Rate | Annual Export Income (1,900 kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p | £475 |
| EDF Export Exclusive 12m V2 | 24p | £456 |
| British Gas Export and Earn Plus | 15.1p | £287 |
| EDF Export 12m / Good Energy / OVO Solar Install | 15p | £285 |
| Octopus Outgoing (post-March-2026 cut) | 12p | £228 |
Solar Export Tariff FAQ
Can I switch SEG supplier independently of my electricity supplier?
Sometimes — it depends on the tariff. Tariffs flagged "requires import switch" (Octopus Outgoing, British Gas, Good Energy open, EDF Export 12m) need you to also be the supplier's import customer. "Install-bundled" tariffs (Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive, EDF Exclusive 12m V2, OVO Solar & Battery Install Exclusive) require the supplier to have installed your hardware and don't always force an import switch.
Why did Octopus cut Outgoing from 15p to 12p?
Octopus has stated rebalancing of wholesale-export risk after a flat year on grid-balancing margins. The cut took effect 1 March 2026 and applied to existing customers from the next billing cycle.
Is Octopus Flux still available to new customers?
No — it closed to new customers in March 2026. Existing Flux customers retain the tariff. For new battery customers, the closest-equivalent tariff today is Intelligent Octopus Flux (still in pilot) or rolling Outgoing 12p with Tesla Powerwall scheduling.
Do I need an MCS-certified installation to claim SEG?
Yes — MCS or Flexi-Orb certification of the PV system is mandatory under the SEG scheme rules.
What about a battery-only export tariff (no PV)?
Permitted under SEG. Octopus, EDF and Good Energy all accept battery-only export. The SEG rate is the same as PV, but check the small print on the supplier's import tariff (some require off-peak charging).
How quickly can I switch to a higher SEG rate?
5 to 8 weeks for switches that don't change the import supplier; 4 to 6 weeks for full dual switches. SEG payments are typically quarterly in arrears.
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