Best Solar Export Tariff in NI

If you have solar panels in Northern Ireland, you can earn money by exporting surplus electricity to the grid. But export tariff rates vary between suppliers, and choosing the right one could mean the difference between earning £50 or £100+ per year. This guide compares every NI supplier’s export rate and explains how to maximise your return.

How Solar Export Tariffs Work in NI

When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home uses, the surplus flows into the grid. Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), licensed electricity suppliers must offer a tariff that pays you for this exported power.

There are two ways your export is measured:

Deemed export assumes a fixed percentage of your total generation is exported, typically 50%. This is the default if you do not have a smart meter capable of measuring export. It is a rough estimate, but it means you can start earning without waiting for a meter upgrade.

Metered export uses a smart meter to record exactly how much electricity you send to the grid. This is more accurate and can work in your favour if you export more than 50%, though most households with good energy habits will export less.

NI Supplier Export Tariff Comparison

Export rates change periodically, so always confirm the latest figure directly with the supplier. The table below reflects approximate rates available in early 2026.

Supplier	Export Rate (p/kWh)	Tariff Type	Payment Frequency	Smart Meter Required?
SSE Airtricity	5.0 - 6.0p	Variable	Quarterly	Recommended
Power NI	4.5 - 5.5p	Fixed	Quarterly	Recommended
Click Energy	4.0 - 5.0p	Fixed	Quarterly	Recommended
Budget Energy	4.0 - 4.5p	Fixed	Quarterly	Recommended
Electric Ireland NI	5.5 - 6.5p	Fixed/Variable	Quarterly	Recommended

Note: “Recommended” means a smart meter gives you metered export (potentially more accurate payments), but deemed export is available as a fallback for all suppliers.

Which Supplier Offers the Best Rate?

As of early 2026, Electric Ireland NI tends to sit at the higher end of the range, while Budget Energy and Click Energy offer lower but still competitive rates. SSE Airtricity and Power NI fall somewhere in the middle.

However, the best rate today may not be the best rate in six months. Export tariffs are not fixed for life, and suppliers can adjust them. The good news is that switching export tariff provider is straightforward (more on that below).

Deemed Export vs Metered Export: Which Is Better?

This depends on your household’s energy habits.

Deemed export suits you if:

• You export less than 50% of your generation (the deemed figure works in your favour)
• You do not want to wait for a smart meter installation
• You have a battery that stores most of your surplus

Metered export suits you if:

• You are out during the day and export a high proportion of your generation
• You want accurate, transparent measurement
• You plan to track your system’s performance closely

For most NI homeowners with a well-sized system and sensible energy habits, deemed export at 50% is actually quite generous. If you are running appliances during the day and using a battery, your real export percentage might be closer to 20-30%, meaning deemed export pays you for electricity you never actually sent to the grid.

How Much Can You Earn from Export?

Let’s work through a realistic example using a typical 4kW residential system.

Assumptions:

• Annual generation: 3,400 kWh (reasonable for a south-facing roof in NI)
• Self-consumption: 50%
• Exported electricity: 1,700 kWh
• Export rate: 5p/kWh

Annual export earnings: £85

Here is how earnings vary depending on the export rate:

Export Rate	Annual Export (1,700 kWh)	Annual Earnings
4.0p/kWh	1,700 kWh	£68
5.0p/kWh	1,700 kWh	£85
6.0p/kWh	1,700 kWh	£102

The difference between the lowest and highest rate is roughly £34 per year. Over a 25-year panel lifespan, that adds up to £850, so it is worth spending 20 minutes comparing suppliers.

For a full breakdown of system costs and payback periods, see our solar panel costs in Northern Ireland guide.

Why Self-Consumption Matters More Than Export

Here is the single most important thing to understand about solar economics: using your own electricity is worth far more than exporting it.

With current electricity prices in Northern Ireland sitting at approximately 29p per kWh, every unit of solar power you use directly saves you 29p. Compare that to the 4-6p you earn by exporting. Self-consumption is worth roughly five to six times more than export.

The maths is simple:

• Use 1 kWh yourself = save 29p
• Export 1 kWh = earn 5p
• Difference = 24p per kWh

This means a household that increases self-consumption from 50% to 80% on a 4kW system saves an additional £300+ per year, dwarfing any export tariff optimisation.

How to Increase Self-Consumption

1. Run appliances during daylight hours. Set washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers to run when your panels are generating.
2. Heat water with solar. Use a timer or solar diverter to heat your immersion during peak generation.
3. Charge your EV during the day. If you work from home or can schedule charging, this absorbs large amounts of solar power.
4. Install battery storage. A battery stores daytime surplus for evening use, typically pushing self-consumption from 50% to 75-85%. Our battery storage guide covers the options.

Battery Storage Makes Export Less Relevant

Adding a battery fundamentally changes the export equation. Instead of sending surplus electricity to the grid for 5p/kWh, you store it and use it in the evening, effectively saving 29p/kWh.

Scenario	Self-Consumption	Export Volume	Export Income	Self-Consumption Savings	Total Benefit
No battery	50%	1,700 kWh	£85	£493	£578
With 5kWh battery	80%	680 kWh	£34	£789	£823

The battery scenario earns less from export (£34 vs £85), but the additional self-consumption savings of £296 more than compensate. This is why we always recommend optimising self-consumption before worrying about which export tariff to choose.

How to Switch Export Tariff Provider

Switching your export tariff provider is separate from switching your electricity supply. You can have one supplier for your import electricity and a different one for your export tariff.

Steps to switch:

1. Check your current agreement. Some export contracts have a minimum term (typically 12 months). Confirm whether you are free to switch.
2. Compare current rates. Use the table above as a starting point, but check each supplier’s website for the latest figures.
3. Contact the new supplier. Tell them you want to register for their export tariff. You will need your MPAN (meter point number), MCS certificate, and details of your solar installation.
4. Provide documentation. The new supplier will ask for your MCS installation certificate and may request proof of system capacity.
5. Confirm the switch. The new supplier handles the changeover. There should be no gap in your export payments.

The process typically takes 2-4 weeks. You do not need to change your import supplier at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register for an export tariff, or is it automatic?

It is not automatic. You must actively register with a supplier to receive export payments. Without registration, your surplus electricity flows to the grid for free. Your solar installer should help you with the initial registration, but it is your responsibility to confirm it is done. See our full guide on the Smart Export Guarantee in NI for step-by-step registration instructions.

Can I have different suppliers for import and export?

Yes. Your import electricity supplier and your export tariff provider do not need to be the same company. Shop around for the best deal on each independently.

How do I get paid for my exported electricity?

Most suppliers pay quarterly, either as a credit on your electricity bill or as a separate payment. Check with your provider whether they issue credits or direct payments.

Will export tariff rates go up in the future?

It is difficult to predict with certainty. Rates have remained relatively stable in the 4-6p range for most NI suppliers. As the grid transitions to more renewable energy and demand for flexibility grows, there is potential for time-of-use export rates that pay more during peak demand periods. For now, plan conservatively.

Is it worth switching to a higher export tariff if I have a battery?

If you have a battery and high self-consumption (75%+), the volume of electricity you export will be relatively small. The difference between a 4p and 6p tariff on 500 kWh of annual export is only £10 per year. It is still worth doing if the switch is easy, but it should not be a priority over optimising your self-consumption and battery settings.

What happens if my supplier stops offering an export tariff?

Under the SEG, all licensed suppliers with more than 150,000 customers must offer at least one export tariff. If your supplier withdraws their tariff, you can switch to another provider. Smaller suppliers are not obligated to offer SEG tariffs, so it is worth choosing a larger provider for reliability.

The Bottom Line

The best solar export tariff in Northern Ireland can earn you £70-£100 per year on a typical 4kW system. That is a welcome bonus, but it is a fraction of the value you gain from self-consumption. Focus first on using as much of your own solar electricity as possible, then choose the highest export rate available for whatever surplus remains.

Ready to get started with solar? Get a free quote from MCS-certified installers in Northern Ireland.