Clean Export Guarantee Rates Ireland 2026:
Best Solar Export Rates by Supplier
Compare Ireland’s Clean Export Guarantee rates, also searched as solar export rates, microgeneration rates and feed-in tariffs. This tracker shows what each supplier pays for exported solar electricity and how much that could be worth per year.
Last updated: July 2026. Rates are variable and should be confirmed with your supplier before switching electricity plan.
Clean Export Guarantee Rates Ireland: Quick Answer
In July 2026, the highest standard solar export rate we found is Pinergy at 25.0c/kWh. A higher 32.0c/kWh premium rate is available through a restricted SSE Airtricity / Activ8 solar offer, so most homeowners should compare both the export rate and the full electricity plan before switching.
| Question | Short answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays the most for solar export? | Restricted premium: SSE / Activ8 at 32.0c/kWh. Highest standard rate: Pinergy at 25.0c/kWh. | Restricted rates may not be available by simply switching supplier. |
| How much could 2,000kWh export earn? | About €304 to €640 per year, depending on supplier rate. | Export income changes materially by supplier, especially for high-export homes. |
| Is CEG the same as a feed-in tariff? | In Ireland, the correct scheme name is Clean Export Guarantee, but many homeowners search for feed-in tariff. | Different terms often refer to the same basic idea: getting paid for exported electricity. |
| Should I choose the highest export rate? | Not always. Import unit rate, standing charge, smart tariff and battery use also matter. | The best export rate is not always the best overall electricity plan. |
Best Solar Export Rate Ireland: Restricted vs Standard Rates
The headline highest export rate is not always the rate most homeowners can access. The most useful comparison is the best restricted premium rate versus the best standard supplier rate.
SSE Airtricity / Activ8 Premium
This is a premium rate linked to qualifying Activ8 solar or battery installations with SSE Airtricity. It is not the same as a normal open-market switch-in export rate.
- Strong headline export value.
- Restricted eligibility.
- Premium terms should be checked carefully before publishing or switching.
Pinergy Microgeneration
Pinergy is the highest standard domestic microgeneration export rate we found in the July 2026 supplier check. Note: Pinergy has confirmed this rate reduces to 18.5c/kWh from 1 August 2026.
- Available as a supplier export rate rather than installer-only premium.
- Good for homes that export a lot of solar electricity.
- Still compare import rates, standing charges and contract terms.
July 2026 Clean Export Guarantee Supplier Comparison Table
The table below compares current domestic solar export rates in Ireland. Annual income is shown using a simple example of 2,000kWh exported per year. Your actual export depends on system size, daytime usage, battery storage and smart meter/export data.
| Rank | Supplier | Rate | Example annual income | Payment / access notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SSE Airtricity / Activ8 Premium Restricted |
32.0c/kWh | €640 | Premium year-one rate linked to qualifying Activ8 solar/battery installations and SSE Airtricity terms. Year two is advertised at 27.0c/kWh. |
| 2 | Pinergy Highest standard |
25.0c/kWh | €500 | Highest standard domestic microgeneration export rate at the time of this check. Pinergy has confirmed this rate will reduce to 18.5c/kWh from 1 August 2026. |
| 3 | Community Power | 20.0c/kWh | €400 | Community Power states a 20c/kWh Clean Energy Guarantee rate for microgeneration. |
| 4 | Electric Ireland | 19.5c/kWh | €390 | Variable Microgen Export rate. Paid as a credit through the supplier billing process. |
| 5 | SSE Airtricity Standard | 19.5c/kWh | €390 | Standard CEG rate used for non-premium SSE microgeneration customers. Confirm directly with SSE before switching. |
| 6 | Bord Gáis Energy | 18.5c/kWh | €370 | Bord Gáis states a Microgen Export Plan rate of 18.5c/kWh for eligible exported electricity. |
| 7 | Energia | 18.5c/kWh | €370 | Energia states a current microgeneration export rate of 18.5c/kWh. |
| 8 | Flogas | 18.5c/kWh | €370 | Flogas price-plan information lists a Microgen Export Rate of 18.5c/kWh. |
| 9 | Yuno Energy | 15.89c/kWh | €318 | Yuno states 15.89c/kWh. A previously flagged increase to 17.16c/kWh was not yet reflected across market sources at the time of this check; confirm the live rate before switching. |
| 10 | PrepayPower | 15.89c/kWh | €318 | PrepayPower states 14c excluding VAT, or 15.89c including VAT, for exported units. |
| 11 | Ecopower | 15.2c/kWh | €304 | Ecopower states a Clean Export Guarantee tariff of 15.2c/kWh including VAT. |
Example annual income = rate × 2,000kWh exported. This is a comparison example only. Always check current supplier terms, import unit rates, standing charges, payment frequency and contract conditions before switching.
Calculate Your Personal Export Income
Use the export income calculator below to estimate what your own solar export could be worth under different supplier rates.
Solar Export Tariff Comparison
How Much Do You Get Paid for Exporting Electricity in Ireland?
Solar export payments are usually calculated by multiplying your exported kWh by your supplier’s Clean Export Guarantee rate. The payment normally appears as an electricity bill credit rather than a separate cash payment.
1,500kWh exported
At 18.5c/kWh, this would be around €278 per year. At 25.0c/kWh, it would be around €375 per year.
2,000kWh exported
At 18.5c/kWh, this would be around €370 per year. At 25.0c/kWh, it would be around €500 per year.
2,500kWh exported
At 18.5c/kWh, this would be around €463 per year. At 25.0c/kWh, it would be around €625 per year.
Important: export income is only one part of your solar return. Using electricity directly in your home can be worth more than exporting it if your import unit rate is higher than your export rate.
What Is the Clean Export Guarantee?
The Clean Export Guarantee, or CEG, is the Irish export payment for surplus renewable electricity sent back to the grid. For most homeowners, this means getting paid by your electricity supplier for solar electricity your home does not use.
Your solar panels generate electricity
Your home uses solar electricity first. Any surplus can be exported to the electricity grid.
Your export is registered
Your installer submits the NC6 notification to ESB Networks so your microgeneration system can be recorded for export.
Your supplier applies a rate
Each electricity supplier sets its own CEG rate. You normally receive the payment as a credit on your bill.
Your smart meter records exports
A smart meter enables metered export payments. Where metered data is not available, deemed export may apply in some cases.
Clean Export Guarantee, Feed-in Tariff and Microgeneration Rates: What Is the Difference?
Irish homeowners use several different terms when searching for export payments. In practice, they usually point to the same decision: how much your supplier pays for surplus electricity exported from your home.
| Term | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Export Guarantee | The official Irish term for export payment arrangements under the microgeneration framework. | Use this when checking Irish policy or supplier documentation. |
| Microgeneration rate | The supplier’s c/kWh payment rate for electricity exported from a small renewable system such as domestic solar PV. | Use this when comparing supplier rate cards and export payments. |
| Feed-in tariff | A common search term for being paid for exported electricity. It is more common in the UK/older schemes, but Irish users still search it. | Use it as a synonym, but check the actual Irish CEG rate. |
| Solar export rate | The plain-English version: what you get paid for exported solar electricity. | Use this when estimating annual solar return. |
Should You Export Solar Power or Store It in a Battery?
The best export rate helps your solar payback, but it does not automatically remove the case for battery storage. The decision depends on your import rate, export rate, evening usage, EV charging, heat pump use and whether you value backup power.
Export may be better if…
- Your supplier pays a strong CEG rate.
- You already use much of your solar during the day.
- Your evening electricity demand is low.
- You want lower upfront cost and simpler payback.
Battery storage may be better if…
- Your import rate is much higher than your export rate.
- You use most electricity in the evening.
- You charge an EV or run a heat pump.
- You want backup capability during outages.
Rate Change History
July 2026: Rates re-checked against supplier pages and comparison sources. Pinergy has confirmed its standard export rate will reduce from 25.0c/kWh to 18.5c/kWh from 1 August 2026. The Yuno increase flagged in June was not yet reflected across market sources at the time of this check. No other supplier rate movement was identified.
June 2026: Rates checked against current supplier pages and official scheme sources. Yuno notes a planned increase from 15.89c/kWh to 17.16c/kWh from 1 July 2026.
May 2026: Previous tracker table showed a market range from 15.2c/kWh to 32.0c/kWh. No broad table change was identified versus the June check, but supplier terms remain variable.
April 2026: All tracked rates were reviewed and no major published rate movement was recorded on this tracker.
February 2026: Initial tracker publication. Rates were collected from supplier websites and comparison/source checks.
Sources Checked for This Export-Rate Tracker
This tracker prioritises supplier-published microgeneration, Clean Export Guarantee or export tariff information where available. Rates are variable, so use this page as a planning comparison and confirm the live tariff with your supplier before switching.
- Official supplier pages for Electric Ireland, Pinergy, SSE Airtricity / Activ8, Community Power, Bord Gáis Energy, Energia, Flogas, Yuno Energy, PrepayPower and Ecopower.
- CRU and Government information on the Clean Export Guarantee and microgeneration framework.
- ESB Networks microgeneration / NC6 information for export registration and smart meter process context.
- Revenue guidance on the microgeneration income exemption.
- Cross-checks against reputable Irish energy comparison sources where supplier wording was unclear or difficult to locate.
Clean Export Guarantee Rates Ireland FAQ
What is the highest solar export rate in Ireland in 2026?
In July 2026, the highest restricted rate we found is the SSE Airtricity / Activ8 premium rate at 32.0c/kWh. The highest standard supplier rate we found is Pinergy at 25.0c/kWh. Restricted premium rates may have eligibility conditions, so check the terms before relying on them.
What is the Clean Export Guarantee?
The Clean Export Guarantee is the Irish payment arrangement for surplus renewable electricity exported to the grid. For most homeowners, it means your electricity supplier pays you a c/kWh rate for unused solar electricity exported from your home.
Is the Clean Export Guarantee the same as a feed-in tariff?
In everyday search language, many people use “feed-in tariff” to mean the same type of export payment. In Ireland, the correct term is Clean Export Guarantee, or CEG, and suppliers set their own export rates.
How much can I earn annually from the Clean Export Guarantee?
A home exporting 2,000kWh per year could earn about €304 at 15.2c/kWh, €370 at 18.5c/kWh, €500 at 25.0c/kWh, or €640 at 32.0c/kWh. Actual income depends on your export volume and supplier rate.
Is solar export income tax-free in Ireland?
The first €400 of qualifying profits from microgeneration of electricity are exempt from Income Tax, USC and PRSI for individuals. Under Finance Act 2025, this exemption has been extended to the end of 2028. Export income above the €400 threshold may be taxable, so check Revenue guidance if your export credits exceed it.
Do I need a smart meter to get paid for exported solar electricity?
A smart meter is needed for metered export payments. ESB Networks uses the NC6 process for microgeneration registration, and where metered export data is not available, deemed export may apply in some cases.
Should I switch supplier for the best solar export rate?
Possibly, but do not compare only the export rate. A supplier with a high export rate may also have different import unit rates, standing charges, smart tariff terms or contract conditions. Compare your full bill, not just your export income.
Should I get a battery if export rates are good?
Good export rates improve the case for exporting surplus electricity, but a battery can still make sense if your import rate is high, your evening usage is heavy, or you want backup power. Use the Solar Decision Tool to compare solar with and without battery storage.
Want to Compare Solar Quotes After Checking Export Rates?
Once you know what exported electricity could be worth, the next step is comparing your full solar payback, grant eligibility and installer quotes.