Smart Export Guarantee for Battery Owners: What It Pays For and What It Does Not
- SEG pays per unit exported, not for electricity you use yourself.
- You normally need an eligible generator, such as solar panels, with an MCS-certified install.
- A smart meter or other meter that records half-hourly exports is typically needed.
- How exports from a battery are treated varies by supplier, so ask first.
- You can choose a SEG supplier that is not your normal energy supplier.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for electricity you send back to the grid from an eligible generator such as solar panels. A battery on its own does not qualify, but one paired with solar may still affect how much you export.
What SEG is
The SEG is a scheme that requires suppliers to pay small-scale generators for electricity exported to the grid. GOV.UK says suppliers must offer a tariff but set its terms, such as whether the rate is fixed or variable. Rates can change, so it is worth checking now and then that you are on a competitive one.
To qualify you need an eligible renewable system, normally solar panels, with the installation and installer certified through MCS or an equivalent scheme. You cannot receive SEG payments if you already get Feed-in Tariff export payments. You apply to a SEG supplier, which does not have to be the company that supplies your electricity.
Where a battery fits
GOV.UK says household batteries or electric vehicles that can both import and export may also be used, and tells readers to ask the prospective supplier. When the scheme was set up, BEIS confirmed storage was eligible only if it was co-located with a qualifying small-scale renewable generator, as reported by Energy-Storage.News in 2019. In plain terms, a battery on its own is not what the scheme was built for.
Supplier practice varies, so we would not assume that exporting from a battery is paid at the same rate as solar, or at all. Ask before you buy, and get the answer in writing.
Good to know
Compare the export rate on its own. The best export tariff is not always attached to the cheapest import tariff.
Does exporting from a battery make sense?
For many households the value of using stored electricity yourself is higher than the export rate, because what you avoid buying is typically priced above what you are paid for exports. Check your own bill to see the difference for your tariff. If so, the battery usually earns more by covering your own evening demand than by exporting.
That can change with a tariff that pays well at peak times, but we have not verified any specific tariff here. Our piece on how a home battery saves money and the UK savings guide show how to compare the options.
What to ask a supplier
Before you sign up, ask these questions.
- Are exports from a solar and battery system paid at the same rate?
- Is the rate fixed or variable, and for how long?
- What meter do you need, and is it included?
- Do you need to be an energy customer to get the tariff?
Common questions
Can I get SEG payments with a battery but no solar panels?
The scheme is built around eligible generators such as solar panels, and storage was set as eligible when co-located with one. We would not expect a battery alone to qualify, so check with the supplier.
Do I need a smart meter for SEG?
You need a meter that can record half-hourly export readings, which is typically a smart meter. Your supplier can tell you what applies to you.
Does SEG pay for electricity I use myself?
No. It pays for each unit you export to the grid, not for what you use at home.
Can I change SEG supplier later?
Tariffs and terms vary, so check the contract. You are not tied to your regular energy supplier, so you can shop around.
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