☀️ Can I get paid for solar electricity I export in Ireland?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes — if you export surplus solar, every supplier must pay you a Clean Export Guarantee. Install solar PV (or micro-wind, hydro or CHP) and export surplus to the grid, and every Irish electricity supplier must pay you a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) payment, at a per-kWh rate each supplier sets (2026 rates are typically around 15–25c/kWh). The first €400 a year of microgeneration income is exempt from income tax, USC and PRSI — a disregard now extended to 31 December 2028. You must notify ESB Networks via an NC6 form (smaller systems) or NC7 (larger), and you need a smart meter to be paid your exact exported volume (without one, a deemed-volume formula applies). Payments begin once the smart meter is in and the form processed. There's no minimum BER requirement. In short: yes — paid per kWh, with €400 a year tax-free.

📋 The rules

Every supplier must pay a Clean Export Guarantee
Per-kWh rate is set by each supplier
First €400 a year is tax-free (to end-2028)
Notify ESB Networks via an NC6/NC7 form
A smart meter is needed for exact payment

🔓 Exceptions

The €400 exemption is per person a year, covering homes and businesses
Income over €400 is taxable only on the excess (not the whole lot)
Without a smart meter you're paid on a deemed-volume formula

⚠️ Penalties & fines

There's no fine attached to microgeneration, but you can't be paid until ESB Networks processes your NC6/NC7 form. The first €400 a year of microgeneration income is exempt from income tax, USC and PRSI (the disregard runs to 31 December 2028); income above €400 is taxable on the excess only, at your marginal rate (20% or 40%) plus USC and PRSI, and should be declared to Revenue. The CEG rate is set by each supplier, so it's worth comparing. Beware a myth: "all solar export income is tax-free" is false — only the first €400 a year is exempt; anything above is taxable. To get paid: register your system with ESB Networks, get a smart meter, and ensure your supplier is set up to pay the CEG.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-06-20

❓ Frequently asked

Can I get paid for exporting solar electricity?

Yes. If you install solar panels and export surplus electricity to the grid, every electricity supplier in Ireland must pay you a Clean Export Guarantee for what you export. Each supplier sets its own per-kilowatt-hour rate, currently often in the region of 15 to 25 cent, so it's worth comparing supplier offers.

Is the solar payment tax-free?

Only partly. The first €400 a year of microgeneration income is exempt from income tax, USC and PRSI, and Budget 2026 extended this disregard to the end of 2028. If your export income exceeds €400, only the amount above €400 is taxable at your marginal rate plus USC and PRSI, and you should declare it to Revenue.

Do I need a smart meter?

To be paid for the exact amount of electricity you export, yes. The smart meter records your actual export volume. If you don't yet have one, you can still be paid, but on a deemed-volume formula set by the regulator rather than your real export. Payments begin once the smart meter is installed and your registration is processed.

How do I register my solar panels?

You must notify ESB Networks of your microgeneration installation using an NC6 form for smaller systems, or an NC7 form for larger ones. Your home also needs an MPRN and to be registered with an electricity supplier. There's no minimum building energy rating required, so older homes can take part too.

How much can I earn?

It depends on how much surplus you export and your supplier's Clean Export Guarantee rate. Many households earn a few hundred euro a year. The first €400 of that income is tax-free each year, which covers a typical domestic system's export income, with only any excess being taxable at your marginal rate.

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