Solar homes can earn hundreds of pounds per year from exporting electricity to the grid – as long as they sign up for the right tariff.

British Gas is one of the most popular export tariff providers in the UK, and supplies energy to more than eight million homes and businesses across the country.

In this guide, we’ll run through British Gas’s two export tariffs, analysing their rates, eligibility criteria, and how long it takes to sign up – plus which import tariff you should pair with each of them.

And if you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

What export tariffs does British Gas offer?

British Gas offers two export tariffs: 

1. Export and Earn Flex
2. Export and Earn Plus

Both of these are Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs. The UK government launched the SEG in 2020, as a replacement for the export part of the Feed-in Tariff.

Energy suppliers in the scheme (which includes all the largest providers) must pay homes for all the electricity they send to the grid, as long as they’re signed up to an export tariff.

British Gas was the third-most popular SEG tariff provider between April 2024 and March 2025, with more than 20,000 households signing up for one of its tariffs.

In addition to the one export tariff it’s required to provide, British Gas also offers a much more generous rate reserved for its import customers.

1. Export and Earn Flex

Export rate: 3.02p/kWh

Any household that generates renewable electricity can sign up for this tariff, regardless of which company installed its system or supplies its electricity.

You just need solar panels – or a different source of green energy, such as wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion, or micro combined heat and power.

3.02p per kWh isn’t the highest rate on the market, but that’s normal: most large suppliers offer one export tariff that’s widely available, and a more generous tariff that’s only open to its own customers.

The lack of conditions attached to Export and Earn Flex is appealing, though you can earn five times more if you’re prepared to import your electricity from British Gas. More on that below.

For more information, read our comprehensive guide to the best SEG rates.

Which import tariff should you use?

The best import tariff to use with Export and Earn Flex is Good Energy EV Charge.

Since British Gas doesn’t restrict your options, you’re free to choose the top import tariff on the market, and the only EV tariff that accepts households without an electric car.

Good Energy EV Charge is a time-of-use tariff, meaning it comes with an off-peak period. 

During this 12am-5am window, you can charge your storage battery and run your household for just 8p per kWh.

This can allow you to cut your energy bills by hundreds of pounds per year – and the more of your electricity usage you move to this off-peak period, the more you can save.

At all times outside this 12am-5am period, you’ll pay a peak rate of around 32.7p per kWh, with the exact rate depending on your home’s location.

This is higher than the price cap, but as long as your installer sizes your solar & battery system properly, your grid electricity consumption should stay low.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To sign up for Export and Earn Flex, you must have a smart meter and solar panels set up at your home.

These are the only eligibility checks, making the process a simple one.

2. Export and Earn Plus

Export rate: 15.1p/kWh

15.1p per kWh is one of the best export rates on the market, and it comes with remarkably few restrictions.

All you need to do is buy your grid electricity from British Gas – which is standard for any export tariff that pays more than 6p per kWh – and own either solar panels or a battery.

The great majority of tariffs on the market require you to have a system that produces renewable electricity, but Export and Earn Plus allows you to get started with just a battery.

Maybe that’s why it was the fourth-most popular SEG tariff in 2024-25, attracting 7.1% of all registrations.

Which import tariff should you use?

You should sign up for British Gas Charge Power, which is available to all households that have a battery.

You can use this tariff to charge your battery from 12am to 5am every day, for just 14.7p per kWh.

And if Sunsave or Hive installs your system, you can benefit from Hive Solar Saver’s 25% discount on your peak electricity rate.

As of January 2026, this cuts your peak rate from 29.4p per kWh to 22.05p per kWh – which is significantly lower than the price cap. Click here to learn more.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To qualify, you just need to register for a British Gas import tariff, own a smart meter, and have solar panels or a battery.

However, any solar panels you have can’t be under a rent-a-roof agreement.

If you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

How much can you earn from British Gas’s export tariffs?

You can earn plenty of money on either of British Gas’s export tariffs, though Export and Earn Plus is much more profitable.

The exact amount you’ll make depends on many factors, including the import tariff you choose, how much electricity you export, and where in the country you live.

Export and Earn Plus is one of the best export tariffs around, with a 15.1p per kWh rate that leaves most of its rivals in the dust.

It requires you to become a British Gas customer, but every high-paying export tariff comes with this requirement – and you can join with just a battery, which is extremely rare.

The supplier’s 3.02p per kWh Flex version clearly isn’t as lucrative, but it does come with no strings.

How can you sign up for a British Gas export tariff?

You can apply online for either British Gas export tariff.

You’ll need to provide copies of documents that prove you own your system, as well as your Flexi-Orb or Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) certificate and a copy of your G98 or G99.

British Gas will also ask for your bank details, and a photo of your smart meter that doubles as an export reading and proof of its serial number.

You can email or post any of these pieces of evidence, though it’s usually easiest to attach them to your online form.

During this period, British Gas should get in contact with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) – that is, the company running the hardware that supplies your area of the UK with electricity.

The DNO should send British Gas your export MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number), which is a unique, 13-digit number that identifies your electricity meter and makes it possible for the supplier to pay you export income.

How long does it take?

After you’ve applied for one of these tariffs, it should take British Gas four weeks at most to get you registered, at which point you can start selling electricity to the grid.

The supplier will then send your export earnings to your bank account every three months.

Are British Gas’s export tariffs worth it?

Export and Earn Plus is one of the best export tariffs around – and you can get it without having to choose British Gas as your solar installer.

This sets the supplier apart from its counterparts, most of which attach this restrictive requirement to their top rates.

The ability to sign up for an excellent 15.1p per kWh rate with just a battery also opens the tariff up to more households – though a properly designed solar & battery system should always earn you more.

And if you don’t fancy switching to British Gas for both your import and export, British Gas Export and Earn Flex comes with a 3.02p per kWh rate that’ll earn you a fair amount while leaving you free to choose any import tariff. 

If you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

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