Smart Export Guarantee for UK Farms 2026: Best Tariffs & How to Maximise Export Income
Published by SEO Dons · Last reviewed February 2026
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) has quietly become the second-biggest income stream for farm solar owners after self-consumption savings. In 2026 the best flat-rate tariffs sit around 15 p/kWh and top-tier time-of-use rates briefly exceed 25 p/kWh. Choosing the right supplier and contract can add to your annual solar income.
How the Smart Export Guarantee works
Every licensed electricity supplier with more than 150,000 customers must offer at least one SEG tariff. Payment rates are set by the supplier — not by Ofgem — so rates vary widely. Installations up to 5 MW are eligible, which covers virtually all farm-scale solar, and systems up to 50 kW need MCS certification (or equivalent).
Top SEG tariffs for farms in 2026
The best farm deals typically come from the larger incumbents and a handful of challenger suppliers. We recommend reviewing your SEG deal every 12 months — there is no lock-in for most contracts.
Flat-rate tariffs
Flat rates range from around 3 p/kWh at the bottom to 15 p/kWh at the top. Most suppliers require you to be both an import and export customer for their higher rates.
Time-of-use export tariffs
Agile-style export tariffs pay more when wholesale prices are high — summer midday peaks, winter evening peaks. For battery-equipped farms that can discharge on demand, these can lift export income.
Design choices that maximise export income
Oversizing your inverter slightly relative to the AC export limit gives you more usable surplus during sunny periods. Adding battery storage unlocks time-of-use arbitrage. And installing a CT clamp-based export limiter rather than a hard G99 cap lets you flex export on demand.
Conclusion
SEG is a rare UK energy policy that has aged well. Flat rates are trending up, time-of-use tariffs are genuinely lucrative for storage-equipped sites, and contracts remain flexible. Treat your SEG arrangement as a live revenue stream — not a set-and-forget.
Related reading
- Battery Storage for Farms — Unlock time-of-use export pricing with storage.
- Farm Solar ROI 2026 — What drives payback, including export income.
- Agricultural PPA — Zero upfront cost alternative to SEG + outright purchase.
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