What Is Microgeneration?
Microgeneration means generating your own electricity at home, typically using rooftop solar panels, and exporting any surplus back to the national grid. Since Ireland's Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) launched, every electricity supplier is legally required to pay you for the electricity you export under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG).
This isn't just a nice bonus. For a typical solar installation generating 4,000–5,000 kWh per year, export payments can add €300–€700 annually to your savings on top of the electricity you use directly.
How Feed-in Tariffs Work in Ireland
When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home is using at that moment, the surplus flows automatically through your meter to the grid. Your supplier tracks this via your smart meter and pays you for each exported kWh.
Smart Meter Required
You need a smart meter to get paid for exports. ESB Networks is rolling out smart meters nationwide, if you don't have one yet, request an upgrade through your supplier or at esbnetworks.ie. Installation is free.
The payment rate, your "feed-in tariff". varies by supplier and can change. Unlike some European countries, Ireland doesn't have a government-fixed rate. Instead, each supplier sets their own Clean Export Guarantee rate, and you're free to switch suppliers to get a better deal.
Feed-in Tariff Rates by Supplier (2026)
These are the current Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) rates offered by major Irish electricity suppliers. Rates are per kWh of electricity exported to the grid.
| Supplier | Export Rate (c/kWh) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSE Airtricity | 24.0c | Highest standard rate. Available on most plans. |
| Bord Gáis Energy | 21.0c | Competitive rate. Check plan-specific terms. |
| Electric Ireland | 19.5c | Widely available. Largest supplier by market share. |
| Energia | 18.5c | Smart Solar bundle available with battery options. |
| Flogas | 18.0c | Newer entrant. Check current availability. |
| Pinergy | 15.0c | Lower export rate. Pay-as-you-go model. |
Rates Change. Shop Around
These rates reflect publicly available information as of March 2026. Suppliers update their CEG rates periodically. Always confirm the current rate directly with your supplier before making a decision. The difference between the highest and lowest rate (24c vs 15c) could mean €200+ per year on a typical solar system.
How Much Can You Earn From Exports?
Your export income depends on three things: how much electricity your panels generate, what percentage you use directly (self-consumption), and what percentage gets exported.
Without a battery, a typical household exports 30–40% of their solar generation, the electricity produced during midday when nobody's home. Adding a solar battery reduces your exports (you store it instead) but increases the value of each kWh since you're avoiding buying from the grid at 34c+ rather than selling at 19c.
The Self-Consumption vs Export Trade-off
Every kWh you use directly saves you the full import rate (typically 34c/kWh). Every kWh you export earns you the feed-in rate (15–24c/kWh). So self-consumption is always worth more than exporting. The optimal strategy is:
- Use as much solar directly as possible. run dishwashers, washing machines, and immersion heaters during sunny hours
- Store the rest in a battery. if you have one, for evening use
- Export what's left. and get paid for the surplus
Smart Tariffs and Solar: A Powerful Combination
A smart meter doesn't just enable export payments, it unlocks time-of-use electricity plans that can dramatically increase your solar savings. With a smart tariff, you pay different rates depending on when you use electricity:
| Time Period | Typical Rate | Solar Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Night (11pm–8am) | 16–20c/kWh | Charge battery, run immersion, charge EV |
| Day (8am–5pm) | 34–42c/kWh | Use solar directly, avoid grid |
| Peak (5pm–7pm) | 40–50c/kWh | Use stored battery power |
| Evening (7pm–11pm) | 34–38c/kWh | Battery or cheap night rate |
The combination of solar panels + battery + smart tariff is the trifecta that maximises savings. You avoid the most expensive peak-rate electricity, use free solar during the day, and charge overnight on cheap rates for anything solar doesn't cover.
Who Can Become a Microgenerator?
Any homeowner with solar panels (or a micro wind turbine up to 50kW) can become a registered microgenerator. The requirements are straightforward:
- A solar PV system installed by a qualified electrician
- A smart meter (free upgrade from ESB Networks)
- Registration with your electricity supplier for the CEG
- An NC6 or NC7 form completed by your electrician and submitted to ESB Networks
Tax-Free Income
The first €200 of annual income from domestic microgeneration is tax-free. Most households will earn below this threshold, making your export income completely tax-free.
How This Connects to Your Solar Investment
Microgeneration income is a key part of the solar panel payback calculation. When you combine bill savings (self-consumption), export income, the €1,800 SEAI grant, and 0% VAT, typical payback periods drop to 4–7 years. After that, it's essentially free electricity plus ongoing export income for the 25+ year lifespan of the panels.
A BER is the starting point for most energy upgrades and grant applications. Homerating.ie has been assessing Irish homes since 2009, with fast turnaround in Dublin and nationwide coverage. Book a BER with Homerating.ie →
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Most domestic solar installations are exempt from planning permission under current regulations. However, if your property is a protected structure or in an architectural conservation area, you may need to check with your local authority.
Yes. The Clean Export Guarantee applies to all suppliers. If you switch, your new supplier will pay you their CEG rate for any electricity you export. There's no lock-in to the supplier who was active when your panels were installed.
You still pay standing charges and any grid electricity you import. Your export payments are separate and typically appear as a credit on your bill or a separate payment, depending on your supplier.
Generally, a battery is justified by the difference between import and export rates, not by export income alone. If you're paying 34c to import and selling at 19c, storing that electricity instead of exporting it saves you 15c per kWh. Over a year, that adds up, but the battery must be cost-effective relative to your usage pattern. See our solar guide for more detail.
With a smart meter, your import and export data is available through your supplier's app or portal, or through ESB Networks' Smart Meter data portal. You can see exactly how much you're generating, using, and exporting each day.