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Solar export payments in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has no Smart Export Guarantee. Here is how export payments actually work — which suppliers pay, what rates to expect, and the registration steps you must complete.
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The short answer
Solar export payments in Northern Ireland
Why the UK guides do not apply here
Almost every solar article you will read online describes the Smart Export Guarantee, under which licensed GB suppliers are legally obliged to offer an export tariff. That obligation does not extend to Northern Ireland. NI has its own electricity market, its own regulator in the Utility Regulator, and its own network operator in NIE Networks.
What exists here instead is voluntary. Suppliers choose to offer microgeneration export tariffs to attract customers, and they can change or withdraw them. That makes it worth checking current rates at the point of installation rather than relying on a figure quoted in a brochure.
What you can expect to be paid
Rates have generally sat in the 4–6p per kWh range. Compare that to an import rate of roughly 27p and the strategic conclusion is immediate: exporting is a consolation prize, not a business model.
For a 4 kWp system exporting around 1,800 kWh a year, an export tariff is worth somewhere in the region of £70–£110 annually. Shifting that same 1,800 kWh into self-consumption through a battery would be worth closer to £480. This is the single strongest argument for pairing solar with storage in Northern Ireland.
How to register, step by step
- Have the system installed and obtain the electrical installation certificate and commissioning documents.
- Ensure the installer has completed the NIE Networks G98 notification (systems up to 3.68 kW per phase) or obtained G99 approval before connection for anything larger.
- Confirm you have a meter capable of recording export — in most cases a smart meter or a dedicated export meter.
- Contact your electricity supplier and ask to be moved onto their microgeneration or export tariff, supplying NIE Networks confirmation and any other documents they currently require (some still ask for an MCS certificate).
- Check the tariff annually. Because these offers are voluntary, switching supplier can materially change what you earn.
Getting more value than the export rate
- Battery storage — shifts generation from a 5p export to a 27p avoided import.
- Hot water diversion — a simple immersion diverter dumps surplus into the cylinder, displacing oil or gas heating at a fraction of a battery's cost.
- Timed loads — running dishwashers, washing machines and dryers in the middle of the day rather than the evening.
- EV charging on surplus — a solar-aware chargepoint puts free units into the car instead of the grid.
- Heat pump synergy — where fitted, running the pump harder during generation hours and coasting through the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Smart Export Guarantee apply in Northern Ireland?
No. The Smart Export Guarantee is a Great Britain scheme administered by Ofgem and it does not extend to Northern Ireland. NI households are paid through voluntary supplier microgeneration export tariffs instead.
Which suppliers pay for exported solar in Northern Ireland?
Power NI, SSE Airtricity, Budget Energy and Electric Ireland have all offered microgeneration export tariffs. Because these are voluntary rather than mandated, rates and availability change, so confirm the current offer directly with the supplier before committing.
Do I need a smart meter to get paid for solar export in Northern Ireland?
You need a meter capable of measuring export, which in practice means a smart meter or a separate export meter. Your supplier will confirm which arrangement applies to your property when you apply for the microgeneration tariff.