What Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK regulatory framework requiring electricity suppliers above 150,000 customers to offer at least one SEG tariff to renewable generation customers. SEG replaced the closed Feed-in Tariff scheme from January 2020.
How it works in detail
SEG tariffs in 2026 vary widely: top tariffs (Octopus Outgoing Agile, E.ON Next Export Exclusive) average 4-12p/kWh; mid-tier tariffs (Good Energy, SO Energy) 9-12p/kWh; weakest tariffs from major suppliers (EDF Export, British Gas Export Reward, Scottish Power standard SEG) 4-7p/kWh. The difference matters for any farm export — for a 200 kW system exporting 50,000 kWh/year, the gap between a 5p tariff and a 12p tariff is £3,500/year of income.
Application process
Requirements: MCS commercial certificate; SEG-compatible smart meter (SMETS2 or HH-capable AMR); contract with an SEG-offering supplier. Application: submit to chosen supplier with MCS certificate. Supplier responds within 4-6 weeks. Payments quarterly or monthly depending on supplier.
Limits and constraints
5 MW maximum per installation (above this requires separate market trading arrangements). Smart meter required for half-hourly export tracking. Some suppliers limit SEG eligibility by import-supply relationship (some require you to also be their import customer).
How Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) stacks with other schemes
SEG is universal — applies to every commercial farm PV install. The tariff selection is independent of import supplier. Smart switching: review SEG provider annually; switch if your current rate is below 8p/kWh. A good installer provides SEG application support as part of every install.
How the SEG fits with tax relief and grants
How the routes fit together: the AIA needs an invoice that separates the PV plant from any roof works; Smart Export Guarantee income is paid in Great Britain only (Northern Ireland has no SEG, and suppliers there such as Power NI set their own export rate); and any capital grant that is genuinely open reduces the cost that qualifies for allowances. No capital grant for rooftop farm PV was open in any UK nation when checked on 3 November 2026. Ask your accountant to model the combination; this site is independent guidance and does not prepare claims.
For wider context on UK farm solar grants and funding routes, see our main grants and funding page.
Common questions
How much can we save through Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
Varies by project. For typical farm installs in 2026, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) contribution is material to overall economics — frequently 15-40% of project value depending on eligible cost basis and scheme intervention rate.
Can we combine Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) with other grants and tax reliefs?
AIA is a tax relief on your own qualifying spend and SEG is income from exports, so they work together. A capital grant is different: expenditure met by a grant generally does not qualify for AIA, and some FIF rounds restrict combination with certain other capital grants. Check your accountant's treatment before you rely on a stack. Ask for scheme stacking to be set out in the proposal.
What does the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) application timeline look like?
Application windows and approval timelines vary by scheme. Most UK farm grant applications run 8-16 weeks from submission to approval. We schedule solar project delivery around grant application windows to avoid missed eligibility.
Do we need professional advisory support for Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?
For complex grant applications, professional advisory support is usually worthwhile. Specialist rural advisers (Strutt & Parker, Carter Jonas, Brown & Co, GSC Grays) handle grant applications alongside an installer’s delivery scope.