Guide
How the Smart Export Guarantee works
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays UK solar households for every unit of electricity they export to the grid. It replaced the old Feed-in Tariff in January 2020 and is now the main government-backed financial benefit of an MCS-certified install. Here's a plain guide to what it involves.
1. What the SEG actually is
A government-backed scheme, not a single tariff: eligible suppliers are legally required to offer at least one SEG tariff above zero pence per unit, and you're free to choose whichever supplier's rate suits you, regardless of who supplies your import electricity.
2. Who qualifies and what you need
To register with most suppliers you need an MCS-certified installation, a Generation and Export meter (usually a smart meter), and a system under 5 MW, which covers every domestic install. A DIY plug-in kit doesn't qualify, since it isn't MCS-certified or wired into the consumer unit with an export meter.
3. What rate you can expect
Rates vary widely and move on short notice: as of mid-2026 the spread across roughly thirty live tariffs runs from around 1p to over 30p per kWh, though the top rates require a battery and a matching import tariff to unlock. For a household with panels and no battery, the genuinely comparable figure is a supplier's flat no-conditions rate, and it's worth checking the Ofgem SEG supplier list rather than assuming a rate you registered at is still competitive a year later.
4. How to register
Apply through your chosen SEG supplier's website. You'll need your MCS certificate number, meter serial number, and installation details. Once approved, payments are usually made monthly or quarterly based on half-hourly meter readings.
5. How battery storage changes the picture
Adding a battery reduces what you export, because the battery stores surplus first. Your SEG income will fall, but the money saved buying less electricity from the grid typically outweighs the lost export income for most households.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need MCS certification to receive SEG payments?
Most SEG suppliers require an MCS certificate as proof the system meets quality standards. A small number of suppliers have moved away from this requirement, but MCS certification remains the safest way to ensure eligibility across all licensed SEG suppliers, and it also protects your 0% VAT entitlement and warranty.
What replaced the old Feed-in Tariff?
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) from January 2020. The FiT also paid for generation, not just export. The SEG only pays for electricity you actually send to the grid, so pairing solar with a battery changes the economics compared to the old scheme.
Can a DIY plug-in kit earn SEG income?
No. Plug-in solar isn't MCS-certified or wired into the consumer unit with an export meter, so it doesn't qualify for SEG. If export income matters to you, an MCS-certified rooftop install is the route, not a plug-in kit. See how DIY plug-in solar works for what it does offer instead.