How to earn money from your solar panels with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

SEG is a government-backed scheme that pays you for exporting renewable electricity from your solar panels, or other low-carbon tech, to the energy grid. In short, it’s how you get paid for the green power you generate but don’t use. 

When you join the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), you become part of a growing community of energy makers who are helping to power a greener future. By installing solar panels and a home battery from OVO, you could cut your electricity bills by up to £1,400 a year.

Why choose the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) isn’t just about being paid for your solar energy. It’s about making your home more energy efficient, sustainable, and cost effective. 

Here are some reasons why SEG could be a great move for your home:.

Get paid for your unused solar energy

With SEG, you can get paid for the electricity your home doesn’t use. Instead of letting that power go to waste, you export it to the energy grid and your SEG tariff pays you for every unit.

Support a greener grid

Every kilowatt of solar energy you export back to the grid helps to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels. That means fewer carbon emissions and more renewable energy powering the country – better for your wallet, better for the planet.

Save even more with solar panels and a battery 

Getting solar panels and a home battery with OVO means our customers can use their stored solar energy to power their home. Or sell it to us at our highest SEG export rate of 20p a kWh with our SEG Install Exclusive tariff. During the darker months, we’ll even charge your battery using cheaper off-peak electricity with Battery Boost, so you can save even when the sun isn’t out.

How does the SEG scheme work?

Here’s how the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme works in 4 steps: 

1. Generate: Use your solar panels, wind turbines, or another renewable energy system to create clean electricity at your home.

2. Use: Power your home with your green electricity and cut your energy bills.

3. Export: Sell any electricity you don’t use by exporting it back to the grid. 

4. Get paid: OVO, or your chosen SEG supplier, pays you for the electricity you export, through your chosen SEG export tariff.

When you sign up to SEG, you don’t just save money – you earn it too. Take a look at OVO’s SEG tariffs and rates to see what you could earn on your solar energy.

What SEG rates does OVO offer?

We have 3 Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs with different export rates. Our SEG tariffs are called:

• SEG – earn 4p per kWh

• SEG Beyond Exclusive – earn 12p per kWh

• SEG Install Exclusive – earn 20p per kWh

The last one, our SEG Install Exclusive, unlocks our very best rate of 20p a kWh. It’s especially for OVO energy customers who get solar and a battery from OVO. 

Discover more about our SEG tariffs here. 

Am I eligible for SEG payments?

There are a few things you’ll need to qualify for SEG:

• Renewable technology: you’ll need to generate renewable electricity from solar panels, small wind turbines, micro combined heat and power (CHP), hydropower, or anaerobic digestion. That said, solar is by far the most popular tech for SEG.

• MCS certification: your system must be MCS certified to qualify for SEG payments.

• System size: your system must meet certain capacity limits. This means there’s a maximum amount of electrical power your system can generate at any one time. The good news is that most home setups fall within these limits, and we’ll be able to confirm your eligibility when you apply.

• Smart meter: you’ll need a smart meter that sends half-hourly export readings to measure the electricity you export to the grid. If you don’t have one, we can install a smart meter for you.

To find out more about getting OVO’s SEG rates, here are our eligibility requirements.

How do I sign up for SEG?

To sign up for SEG with OVO, you’ll need to:

• Choose the SEG tariff that suits your home 

• Fill in our online application form 

• Upload your MCS certificate and key documents

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll:

• Review it within 3 working days 

• Call you for more info, if we need it

• Ask you for your opening export reading

• Email you when your account is set up

So long as we have everything we need in your initial application, we’ll aim to have your SEG account set up within 4 weeks.

Who can I call if I need help?

If you have any questions or need help completing your application, please call our SEG Team at OVO on 0330 102 7421. We’re here Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Frequently asked questions

1. These annual energy savings are dependent on your property type and location, roof type, slope and size. If your roof is shaded or isn't south facing, figures are likely to be lower. We based the figure on the following: 

a) You have 12 (440W) solar panels and a 9.5 kWh battery installed 

b) You’re home all day with an annual electricity consumption of 2,700 kWh (Ofgem). You currently pay our Standard Variable Rate of 27.30p (correct at 1 April 2025) and will use 39% of what you generate 

c) You sign up for our exclusive SEG rate (20p kWh) for customers who purchase solar and a battery from us, and you sell back the remaining 61% of energy generated. 

You’ll get a more accurate savings estimation once we’ve surveyed your property.