Irish homeowners with solar panels are now entitled to be paid for electricity they generate and export to the national grid — but the rates, application processes, and terms vary by supplier. This guide explains how the microgeneration export tariff works in Ireland, how much each supplier pays, and how to make the most of it alongside your import tariff.
What Is Microgeneration?
Microgeneration refers to small-scale electricity generation at a household or small business premises — typically solar PV panels, but also micro-wind or small hydro installations. The term "micro" reflects the scale: systems up to 50 kWp qualify under Ireland's Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), though most residential installations are 3–6 kWp.
When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home is consuming at that moment, the surplus is exported to the national grid via your smart meter. Under the MSS, your electricity supplier must offer you a payment for these exported units.
Ireland's MSS was introduced in November 2022. Before that, Irish solar panel owners exported electricity to the grid for free — a fact that discouraged solar adoption for years. The introduction of export tariffs fundamentally changed the economics of residential solar.
Which Suppliers Pay Export Tariffs?
All Irish electricity suppliers are legally required to offer a Microgeneration Support Scheme tariff. The CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities) mandates participation. However, the rate each supplier pays is not regulated — it is set commercially, which is why rates vary.
As of 2026, here is what the major suppliers offer:
| Supplier | Export rate (cent/kWh) | Notes | |----------|----------------------|-------| | Electric Ireland | 18.5c | Standard MSS rate | | SSE Airtricity | 21c | Higher rate for existing customers | | Bord Gáis Energy | 18c | Annual payment option | | Energia | 19c | | | Flogas | 18c | | | Community Power | 20c | Co-operative model; supports Irish renewables | | Pinergy | 17c | Smart meter customers only |
Rates change periodically — check with each supplier for current figures. The gap between the best and worst rates is roughly 4 cent/kWh, which adds up to €40–60 per year on a typical 4 kWp system.
How Are Export Payments Calculated?
Your smart meter records both import (electricity drawn from the grid) and export (electricity sent to the grid) in 30-minute intervals. This is a key requirement: you must have a smart meter to receive microgeneration export payments. Standard accumulation meters cannot distinguish generation from consumption at the interval level required.
Your export payment is calculated as:
Export units (kWh) × export rate (cent/kWh) = gross export earnings
For a typical 4 kWp system in Dublin generating around 4,200 kWh/year:
- Self-consumed: ~2,940 kWh (70%)
- Exported: ~1,260 kWh (30%)
- Export earnings at 18.5c: ~€233/year
- Self-consumption saving at 28c unit rate: ~€823/year
- Total annual benefit: ~€1,056/year
Export earnings are secondary to self-consumption savings. The best strategy is to maximise the electricity you use directly from your panels — by running dishwashers, washing machines, and EV chargers during daylight hours.
How to Apply for Microgeneration Export Payments
The process involves both your installer and your supplier:
- SEAI-registered installer — your installer registers your system with the SEAI and ESB Networks. They will provide a Microgeneration Registration Certificate (MRC) for your installation.
- Smart meter — if you don't already have one, ESB Networks will install a smart meter as part of the registration process (free of charge).
- Apply to your supplier — once registered, contact your electricity supplier to set up export payments. Most suppliers have an online application form or a dedicated microgeneration team.
- Choose payment frequency — suppliers typically offer monthly credit on your bill, quarterly payment, or annual lump sum payment.
The full process takes 4–8 weeks from installation completion to first export payment.
Combining Export and Import Tariffs
The choice of import tariff matters more than people realise when you have solar. Two strategies work well:
Low unit rate tariff — reduces the cost of every kWh you still import from the grid. Combined with high self-consumption, this minimises your remaining bill.
Night rate tariff — if you have an EV or home battery, charging overnight at 8–12c/kWh while exporting at 18–21c/kWh creates a profitable arbitrage. You store cheap overnight grid electricity and displace daytime grid imports with solar.
The import and export tariff need not come from the same supplier — you can export to SSE Airtricity while importing from Electric Ireland, for example. However, most homeowners find it simpler to use the same supplier for both, and some suppliers offer bundled solar customer packages with preferential rates.
Maximising Your Export Earnings
Key practical tips:
- Run appliances at night, not midday — counterintuitive but correct if you have a battery. Charge the battery from solar, run the dishwasher on delay timer overnight, export the surplus during the day.
- Review your supplier's export rate annually — the market is competitive and rates change. Switching to a higher export rate saves €40–80/year with no installation work required.
- Ensure your smart meter is registered — contact ESB Networks if you are not sure your meter is recording exports correctly. Some meters need a configuration update after solar installation.
Find the best import tariff to pair with your solar setup.
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