Export Rate explained
The export rate is the price per kilowatt-hour paid to you when your solar panels generate more electricity than you're using and the surplus flows into the grid. In the UK, this is determined by your SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) tariff.
Current export rates in the UK (2024–2026):
- Standard SEG tariffs: 3–15p/kWh
- Time-of-use export tariffs (e.g. Octopus Flux, Agile): can reach 20–40p/kWh during peak grid demand (typically 4–7 pm weekdays)
- Old FIT export tariff: 3–5.5p/kWh (fixed for existing contracts)
Compare this to the typical import rate of 24–28p/kWh — export earnings are substantially less than the value of self-consumed power. This gap makes battery storage increasingly attractive: storing midday solar surplus to use in the evening means using power worth 24–28p/kWh instead of receiving just 6–12p/kWh for export.
The export rate gap also explains why EV charging, immersion heaters, and smart appliances are valuable solar accessories — they convert surplus solar into avoided fuel costs (petrol/diesel savings for EVs, lower gas bills for hot water heating) at rates far exceeding what you'd earn exporting.