Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)
The Smart Export Guarantee replaced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), which closed to new applications in April 2019. Under the SEG, licensed electricity suppliers with 150,000 or more domestic customers are legally required to offer at least one export tariff to eligible small-scale generators.
Export rates vary considerably — typically between 1p and 15p per kWh — depending on the supplier and the specific tariff product. Rates change frequently, so it pays to compare before committing to an installer.
Eligibility requirements
- ✓ Installation must be carried out by an MCS-certified installer
- ✓ A smart meter capable of measuring half-hourly exports is required
- ✓ System capacity must be 5 MW or under (domestic systems are well within this)
- ✓ Register with your energy supplier after installation — they cannot refuse eligible applicants
Illustrative SEG rates — 2026
Rates below are illustrative. Always check current tariffs directly with your supplier before making decisions.
| Supplier | Indicative Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Octopus Energy | ~15p / kWh | Outgoing Octopus — rate tracks wholesale prices, can be higher |
| E.ON Next | ~5.5p / kWh | Fixed export tariff, easy to budget |
| OVO Energy | ~3p / kWh | Offered to existing OVO customers |
| British Gas | ~2.5p / kWh | Available to British Gas electricity customers |
| EDF Energy | ~1.5p / kWh | Minimum statutory rate — check for updated products |
How to register: Contact your energy supplier directly once your system is installed and MCS certified. They are legally required to process your application.
ECO4 Scheme — Free Solar Panels for Eligible Households
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government scheme that requires large energy suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements in qualifying low-income and vulnerable households. The current phase ran until March 2026, with extensions under consideration by the government.
ECO4 prioritises whole-home retrofit packages. Insulation measures (loft, cavity wall, solid wall) are the primary focus, but solar panels can be included as part of a comprehensive package where they form an appropriate component of the improvement.
All installers working under ECO4 must hold both TrustMark and MCS certification. Be wary of unsolicited cold calls offering "free solar panels" — always verify the installer's credentials.
Who qualifies for ECO4?
Households receiving any of the following benefits may be eligible:
- ✓ Universal Credit
- ✓ Child Tax Credit (with income threshold)
- ✓ Housing Benefit
- ✓ Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings)
- ✓ Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- ✓ Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- ✓ Working Tax Credit (with income threshold)
- ✓ Referred by your local authority (LA Flex — see below)
How to apply for ECO4
Contact your energy supplier and ask about ECO4 eligibility, or visit gov.uk/ECO4 for official guidance. You can also ask your local council whether they can refer you under their LA Flex allocation.
LA Flex — Local Authority Flexibility
Under the LA Flex element of ECO4, local councils are permitted to refer up to 50% of their ECO4 allocation to households in fuel poverty or at risk of fuel poverty — even if those households do not receive qualifying benefits.
Eligibility criteria differ by council. Some authorities prioritise households with an EPC rating of D or below, others focus on low income combined with high energy costs. Contact your local council's housing or energy efficiency team to find out whether they have an active LA Flex scheme and whether you might qualify.
Tip: Even if you do not currently receive benefits, it is worth contacting your council or a local energy advice charity (such as National Energy Action) to explore whether LA Flex could apply to your circumstances.
Solar Grants in Scotland
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan
Scottish homeowners can access up to £7,500 as a grant and an additional £9,000 as an interest-free loan for eligible renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, including solar PV. The scheme is administered by Home Energy Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Eligibility is income-based for the highest grant levels. Lower grant amounts are available to a wider range of homeowners. The loan element is repaid when the property is sold.
Visit Home Energy ScotlandWarmer Homes Scotland
Warmer Homes Scotland provides free energy efficiency improvements — including renewable heating and solar PV in some cases — to owner-occupiers and private tenants in or at risk of fuel poverty.
Eligibility is primarily based on household income, whether you receive qualifying benefits, and your property's energy efficiency rating. Applications are made through Home Energy Scotland.
Solar Grants in Wales
Nest Scheme (Warm Homes)
The Welsh Government's Nest scheme (part of the Warm Homes programme) provides free energy efficiency improvements to owner-occupiers and private tenants in Wales who are on a low income or receiving qualifying benefits and live in a property with poor energy efficiency.
Measures can include insulation, heating systems and, in eligible cases, solar PV panels. A home assessment determines what improvements are appropriate.
Visit Nest on gov.walesOptimised Retrofit Programme
The Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) is a Welsh Government initiative focused on social housing, testing whole-house retrofit approaches for housing associations and local authorities. It is not a direct-to-homeowner scheme, but it informs how energy efficiency policy develops in Wales and may indirectly benefit social housing tenants through improved standards over time.
Solar Grants in Northern Ireland
Affordable Warmth Scheme
The Affordable Warmth Scheme, administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), provides grants for insulation and heating improvements to owner-occupiers and private tenants who are on a low income and have a cold, inefficient home. Eligibility is means-tested and based on household income.
Contact the NIHE directly or visit the NI Direct website for up-to-date eligibility criteria and application guidance.
NISEP — NI Sustainable Energy Programme
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) is an energy efficiency obligation scheme similar in principle to ECO4. It requires electricity suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements for eligible customers, with a focus on low-income households.
Contact your electricity supplier in Northern Ireland — or the Utility Regulator's office — for information on current NISEP-funded schemes available in your area.