Solar, batteries and export: how to get paid for your sunshine
What to sort out before installation day, how export payments work, and why a battery changes which import tariff you should be on.
If you’re having solar panels or a home battery fitted, a little preparation means you start earning from the first sunny day.
Before installation day
- Make sure you have a smart meter that can record export. Most SMETS2 meters can; we’ll check yours and swap it free if needed.
- Ask your installer for the MCS certificate and the DNO notification (your installer submits a G98 or G99 form to the local network operator).
- Choose your import tariff. With a battery, a time-of-use tariff such as EV Nights lets you fill the battery at 7.35p overnight and use it in the evening.
How export payments work
Every unit your system sends to the grid is measured by your smart meter every half hour. On Brightwell Sunshare Export we pay 14p per kWh when you also buy your electricity from us (4.5p if you only export with us), credited to your account monthly.
A typical year
A 6 kW south-facing system in the south of England generates around 5,200 to 5,600 kWh a year. Without a battery, a working household might use 35–45% of that directly and export the rest. A battery typically lifts self-use to 60–75%, so you export less but buy much less at day rates.
| 6.2 kWp system, 5,350 kWh a year | Used at home | Exported | Export earnings at 14p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels only | 2,100 kWh | 3,250 kWh | £455 |
| Panels and a 10–13 kWh battery | 3,400 kWh | 1,950 kWh | £273 |
The battery version earns less from export but saves far more on what you would otherwise import at the day rate.