Quick answer
Yes. UK churches with solar PV can sell surplus electricity back to the grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — a statutory framework requiring large electricity suppliers to pay for exported generation. Tariffs typically 5-15p/kWh; church income varies by export volume (usually £200-£2,000/year for parish-scale systems).
Full answer
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the UK regulatory framework that replaced the Feed-in Tariff in January 2020. Under SEG, every licensed electricity supplier with over 150,000 customers must offer at least one export tariff to small-scale generators (sub-5 MW including all parish solar).
SEG tariffs vary by supplier. Highest tariffs (2026): Octopus Energy Outgoing Fixed (12p/kWh fixed for 12 months), Octopus Outgoing Agile (variable, averaging 8-12p/kWh), E.ON Next Export Exclusive (9p/kWh fixed), Good Energy Export (8-10p/kWh). Typical parish church negotiates 7-12p/kWh.
The economic value of exported electricity depends on self-consumption. A Sunday-only parish church might generate 12,000 kWh/year and self-consume 25-40% (~4,000 kWh), exporting 8,000 kWh at 10p/kWh = £800/year. An active hall might generate 18,000 kWh and self-consume 65-75% (~13,000 kWh), exporting 5,000 kWh at 10p = £500/year. Higher self-consumption = lower export income but higher overall savings.
Application process: complete MCS installation, register the installation with MCS, sign up to chosen supplier's SEG tariff (typical processing 4-8 weeks), receive quarterly or monthly payments based on metered export. For most parishes this is straightforward administration; we handle the SEG application alongside the install commissioning.
Related questions
- What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
- Which supplier offers the best SEG tariff?
- Can we time-shift export with a battery?
- Are SEG payments tax-free?