As of the 1st of January 2020, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) legislation came into full effect.
The smart export guarantee (SEG) is an obligation set by the government for licensed electricity suppliers to offer a tariff and make payment to small-scale low-carbon generators for electricity exported to the National Grid, providing certain criteria are met.
Who’s the SEG for?
The SEG is an opportunity for anyone in Great Britain who has installed one of the following technology types up to a capacity of 5MW, or up to 50kW for Micro-CHP:
- Solar photovoltaic (Solar PV)
- Wind
- Micro combined heat and power (CHP)
- Hydro
- Anaerobic digestion (AD)
How does the SEG work?
The SEG Licensee (The Energy Company) is required to pay for the electricity exported by your installation and to report to Ofgem on installations under the SEG arrangements. SEG Licensees determine the rate they will pay, contract length and other terms.
Whilst wholesale electricity prices can sometimes fall below zero, SEG Licensees must always offer a tariff that remains above zero. SEG payments must be calculated by SEG Licensees using Export Meter Readings.
What are the tariffs available?
As of 3rd of January 2020, the following tariffs are available:
| Energy Supplier | Tariff Name | Price per kWh |
| Social Energy | Export | 5.6p |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Fixed | 5.5p |
| E.On- for new customers with solar installs from 1Jan 2020 | Fix & Export Exclusive V1 | 5.5p |
| Bulb | Export Payments | 5.38p |
| OVO | OVO SEG Tariff | 4.0p |
| ScottishPower | Smart Export Variable | 4.0p |
| SSE | Smart Export Tariff | 3.5p |
| EDF | Export+Earn | 3.5p |
| E.On- All other customers including Npower | Fix & Export V1 | 3.0p |
| Centrica/British Gas | Export & Earn Flex | 1.5p |
| Green Network Energy | SEG Tariff | 1.0p |
| Utility Warehouse | UW Smart Export Guarantee | 0.5p |
| Shell Energy | SEG Tariff | 3.5p* |
Example of how this works
A Typical 4kW Solar PV System in the South of England generating 4000kWh of energy per year, may export 40% of its energy to the Grid.
Using 3 example suppliers, this would result in annual payments as follows:
| Energy Supplier | Calculation | Annual Payment |
| Octopus Energy | 1600kWh x 5.5p | £88.00 |
| EDF | 1600kWh x 3.5p | £56.00 |
| Utility Warehouse | 1600kWh x 0.5p | £8.00 |
Interested in Solar?
Each of GreenGenUK’s renewable projects begins with a free-of-charge, no obligation survey. The aim of this survey is to better understand the needs and wishes of our customers. In turn, we can answer any questions customers may have regarding solar or our other renewable energy alternatives.
We take all the information we need in order to draw up a detailed, accurate quote for our customers. Our quote packs provide information on the type of solar PV system we think best meet a customer’s needs. Also, we specify the components we use before breaking down the financial and environmental benefit of the system.
Due to the fast-changing nature of the solar industry, we are always happy to requote customers should their requirements change.
To book your free survey or for further information, phone the office on 01326 564513. Alternatively, fill out the enquiry form found below.
To see some examples of our existing work, head over to our ‘Case Studies’ page.
More information on the SEG can be found via the ofgem website
*Shell Energy have increased their offering to 3.5p from 0.0001p as of 3/1/20