Clean Export Guarantee Explained: Get Paid for Your Excess Solar

What Is the Clean Export Guarantee?

The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) pays Irish homeowners €0.20 per kilowatt-hour for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid. This government-backed scheme, launched in 2022, requires energy suppliers to pay you for every unit of excess solar power your panels generate. For a typical 6kWp system, CEG earnings add €250–€378 per year on top of your bill savings - and the payment appears automatically as a credit on your electricity bill via your smart meter.

Under the CEG, energy suppliers are required to offer a payment rate for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you export. The scheme is designed to make solar panels financially viable for everyone - not just those who can use all of their generated electricity during the day. It effectively turns the national grid into your battery, giving you credit for the power you share with your neighbours.

How the CEG Works in Practice

The mechanics of the Clean Export Guarantee are straightforward, but understanding how the money flows is important for maximising your returns:

1. 1Your solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours.
2. 2Any electricity you use in your home is free - it never passes through your meter.
3. 3Any surplus electricity that your home does not use is automatically exported to the national grid.
4. 4Your smart meter measures exactly how much electricity you export.
5. 5Your energy supplier calculates your CEG payment based on your exported kilowatt-hours and their tariff rate.
6. 6The payment appears as a credit on your electricity bill or as a direct bank payment, depending on your supplier.

The system is entirely automated - you do not need to do anything to export power. Whenever your panels are generating more than your home is consuming, the excess flows out to the grid automatically. Your smart meter tracks this in real time.

Smart Meter Requirement

To benefit from the CEG, you need a smart meter installed at your property. Smart meters are digital devices that measure your electricity consumption and generation in real time, replacing the old spinning disc meters that could only measure net flow.

The good news is that ESB Networks has been rolling out smart meters across Ireland since 2019, and most homes with solar panels will already have one. If you do not, you can request a free smart meter installation from ESB Networks. The installation typically takes 1–2 hours and involves replacing your existing meter. There is no charge for this service.

Best Supplier Rates in 2026

While the CRU sets a minimum CEG rate of €0.20/kWh, many energy suppliers compete by offering higher rates or additional perks. Here is a comparison of the leading supplier CEG offerings as of early 2026:

Realistic Earnings: What Can You Expect?

CEG earnings depend on the size of your system, your daytime electricity consumption, and the orientation of your panels. A household that uses most of its solar generation during the day will export less (and earn less from CEG) but save more on bills. Conversely, a household that is out during the day will export more and earn more from CEG.

How to Register for the CEG

Registering for the Clean Export Guarantee is a simple process. In most cases, your solar installer will handle the registration as part of your installation package. If not, here are the steps:

1. 1Ensure you have a smart meter installed. Contact ESB Networks at 01 698 5005 if you are unsure.
2. 2Once your solar system is installed and commissioned, your installer should register it with ESB Networks as a microgeneration unit (under 11kW).
3. 3Contact your energy supplier and inform them you now have a solar PV system. They will update your account to reflect your new export capability.
4. 4Ask your supplier to put you on their CEG tariff. They may require a copy of your ESB microgeneration certificate.
5. 5Your first CEG payment will typically appear on your next billing cycle after registration.

The entire registration process usually takes 2–4 weeks from the date of your solar installation. Most installers include CEG registration in their standard installation package, so you may not need to do anything yourself.