What is Export Payment?
Money paid by your electricity supplier for each kWh of surplus solar electricity you send to the grid.
Quick Answer
Irish standard export payment rates range from 15.2c to 19.5c per kWh (2026). Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity pay 19.5c, while Bord Gáis, Energia, Flogas and Pinergy pay 18.5c (Pinergy reduced its rate from a market-leading 25c on 1 August 2026). A restricted premium of up to 32c/kWh in year one is available only to customers of SSE Airtricity's Activ8 installer programme, not on switch-in. Export payments are tax-free on the first €400 earned per year (extended to 31 December 2028 by Finance Act 2025).
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Export Payment Explained
An export payment is the amount an electricity supplier pays a microgenerator for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity exported to the national grid. Export payments incentivise renewable energy by giving homeowners a financial return on surplus generation. Payment rates are set by individual suppliers and may include a base rate and a clean export premium for eligible installations.
How Does Export Payment Work in Ireland?
Irish standard export payment rates range from 15.2c to 19.5c per kWh (2026). Electric Ireland and SSE Airtricity pay 19.5c, while Bord Gáis, Energia, Flogas and Pinergy pay 18.5c (Pinergy reduced its rate from a market-leading 25c on 1 August 2026). A restricted premium of up to 32c/kWh in year one is available only to customers of SSE Airtricity's Activ8 installer programme, not on switch-in. Export payments are tax-free on the first €400 earned per year (extended to 31 December 2028 by Finance Act 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are export payments taxable in Ireland?
The first €400 per year of microgeneration income is tax-free. Above that threshold, export income is taxable as income.
Related Guides
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.