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 export payment rates range from 15–24c per kWh (2025). Suppliers offering competitive rates include Energia (21c), Electric Ireland (18.5c), and SSE Airtricity (24c). The Clean Export Premium (CEP) of up to 6c/kWh is available for systems registered under the MSS. Export payments are tax-free on the first €400 earned per year.
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 export payment rates range from 15–24c per kWh (2025). Suppliers offering competitive rates include Energia (21c), Electric Ireland (18.5c), and SSE Airtricity (24c). The Clean Export Premium (CEP) of up to 6c/kWh is available for systems registered under the MSS. Export payments are tax-free on the first €400 earned per year.
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.
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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.