Power NI Export Rate 2026: 11.88p per kWh

paid per kWh exported: 11.88p
paid per kWh imported: 34p
gap per kWh: 22.12p

The short answer

Solar export payments in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is not covered by the Smart Export Guarantee, which is a Great Britain scheme. Power NI pays 11.88p per kWh for exported electricity from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027 (as of October 2026), a fixed price approved each year by the Utility Regulator. To claim, you need NIE Networks registration under G98 or G99. Power NI's export contract terms also say a solar PV station must be accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) if it is not already accredited. Check your supplier's terms before you order.

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 a supplier arrangement. Power NI offers an annual fixed price for export generators up to 50 kW, which the Utility Regulator approves each year. Budget Energy's solar page says its customers need to contact Power NI about an export tariff. We could not find a published Northern Ireland export rate on the pages of SSE Airtricity, Electric Ireland or Click Energy, so ask them directly. The rate changes every year, so check it at the point of installation rather than relying on a figure quoted in a brochure.

What you can expect to be paid

As of October 2026, Power NI pays 11.88p per kWh for exported electricity from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. Compare that to an import rate of roughly 34p and the conclusion is clear: an exported unit is worth about a third of an imported one, so exporting is useful income but not a business model. Under Power NI's export contract terms, payment follows the annual meter reading.

For a 4 kWp system exporting around 1,800 kWh a year, that is about £214 annually (1,800 kWh × 11.88p). A battery cannot capture all of that, because in winter there is little surplus to store; lifting home use from half to about 70% moves around 720 kWh, worth about £159 a year more than exporting it at the 22.12p spread. That gap is the main argument for pairing solar with storage in Northern Ireland, though it has to be set against the battery's price.

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.
Register for export payments with your supplier (for Power NI, through its renewable account page) and ask to be moved onto their microgeneration or export tariff, supplying NIE Networks confirmation and any other documents they currently require (Power NI also requires MCS accreditation for solar PV; see the next section).
Check the tariff annually. Power NI resets its rate every 1 October, so what you earn can change from year to year.

Do you need an MCS certificate to be paid?

For Power NI, the terms say yes for solar PV. Its export contract for generators under 50 kW says that where a solar photovoltaic station is not currently accredited, it must be accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and Power NI may end the contract if accreditation is not obtained within three months. The same terms require a connection agreement with NIE Networks.

Budget Energy refers export tariffs to Power NI. We could not find an MCS requirement, or a published Northern Ireland export rate, on the pages of the other suppliers we checked, so confirm with your supplier before you order.

Before you order, check with Power NI that the installation will meet its export terms, so the decision is made with the full picture.

Getting more value than the export rate

Battery storage — shifts generation from an 11.88p export to a roughly 34p 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.

Sources

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 publishes a rate: 11.88p per kWh from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. Budget Energy says export tariffs are run by Power NI. We could not find a published Northern Ireland export rate for SSE Airtricity, Electric Ireland or Click Energy, so confirm any other supplier's offer directly.

Do I need an MCS certificate to be paid for solar export in Northern Ireland?

For Power NI, yes in effect: its export contract terms say a solar PV station that is not already accredited must be accredited under MCS. Check with Power NI, or any other supplier you plan to use, before you order.

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.