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Start generating income from your solar panels
Solar panels won’t just save you money on your electricity bills, they can also generate yearly income for you, thanks to the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. Since its launch in 2020, the SEG scheme has helped homeowners earn money from their solar panels by allowing them to sell excess energy to the grid.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about the SEG scheme, including how you can apply and the eligibility criteria you need to meet. We’ll also tell you how much you can earn from the scheme per year, depending on how much electricity you produce.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government scheme that offers payments to those who sell excess renewable electricity back to the grid. The scheme pays out for every unit of energy that you feed to the grid from your solar PV system. It doesn’t pay you for any electricity that you use yourself.
If you’re a part of the SEG scheme, you won’t be parting with any electricity that you actually need to use. It’s only the excess that gets exported back to the grid, rather than being wasted if you don’t have a battery storage option.
The scheme is offered by all major UK energy suppliers, as well as smaller, MCS Certified companies around the country.
How Do You Apply for Smart Export Guarantee?
Applying for the SEG is a relatively simple process, providing you meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible you must have a low-carbon electricity generation system, which includes:
Solar PV panels
Onshore wind turbines
Micro-combined heat and power (Micro-CHP)
Hydro
Anaerobic digestion
Other Eligibility Requirements
A smart reader or Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meter that can send half-hourly reports to your supplier
A contract with an MCS Certified electricity supplier
A system no larger than 5MW (Micro-CHP systems are limited to 50kW)
A connection to the National Grid
To apply for the SEG scheme, you need to get in contact with an SEG tariff supplier. They don’t need to be the same supplier that provides your energy, so you can shop around for the best deal. Each tariff supplier will offer a different rate, and it’s up to you to ensure you’re on a competitive deal.
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How Much Does the Smart Export Guarantee Pay?
The exact rate that you’ll be paid for taking part in the SEG differs depending on your tariff supplier. However, companies usually pay between 1p/kWh and 15p/kWh. These figures are bookends tariff-wise, so you’re most likely to be offered a number in between. Let’s take a look at how much certain tariff rates would earn per average export amounts:
| Tariff | 250kWh exported (per year) | 500kWh exported (per year) | 750kWh exported (per year) | 1000kWh exported (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1p | £2.50 | £5 | £7.50 | £10.00 |
| 3p | £7.50 | £15 | £22.50 | £30.00 |
| 7p | £17.50 | £35 | £52.50 | £70.00 |
| 11p | £27.50 | £55 | £82.50 | £110.00 |
| 15p | £37.50 | £75 | £112.50 | £150.00 |
There are a lot of variables that can influence how much you get paid from the SEG. If you work from home, you’ll likely receive less as you’ll be using more of the electricity you generate. If you’re out for most of the day, your solar panels will produce a greater excess, resulting in a higher fee.
The weather also plays an important role. Summertime presents your greatest earning potential, as the days are longer and generally brighter. If the UK experiences a wet summer, which is well within the realms of possibility, your solar excess will be reduced.
Access the Smart Export Guarantee With EPC
Start earning money from your solar panels today!
If you're a homeowner in Essex or the South East, you can capitalise on the Smart Export Guarantee scheme with EPC. We're MCS Certified and have 15 years of experience in both residential and commercial solar panel installations.
We don't do cookie cutter installations, with all of our designs focusing on how your solar panels can generate the maximum electricity possible.
Don't hesitate. Contact us today to see how we can help you start earning money with solar electricity.