Q2 2026 SEG Rates Watch: What the Latest Ofgem Data Means for Solar Exports

What Is the Main SEG Story in Q2 2026?

The main SEG story in Q2 2026 is that the market has become much larger and more varied, but tariff quality still depends heavily on supplier rules rather than one national export rate. According to Ofgem’s SEG Annual Report for Year 5, 50 export tariffs were available from 11 SEG licensees between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

That matters because the best export outcome still comes from tariff choice, not from simply having panels on the roof.

According to the same Ofgem report, 21 of those 50 tariffs were open to all eligible generators, while 29 were only available to households meeting extra criteria such as importing electricity from the same supplier. So Q2 2026 should be treated as a market-selection problem, not only as a technology one.

For wider context, read our smart export guarantee guide, spring 2026 solar loan market watch, and solar battery storage guide.

How Big Has the SEG Market Become?

The SEG market is now large enough to matter to mainstream solar buyers, not only early adopters. According to Ofgem’s Year 5 report, 270,395 installations were registered to SEG tariffs by 31 March 2025, with 1,585 MW of installed capacity, up from 166,022 installations and 967 MW in Year 4.

That scale matters because it shows exports are now a normal part of domestic solar economics.

According to Ofgem, those registration figures are a significant increase on Year 4. So in Q2 2026, the relevant question is no longer whether there is an export market at all, but whether your chosen tariff actually rewards your usage pattern well enough.

How Much Money Is Actually Being Paid Out Through SEG?

SEG is now paying out enough money to be material, but not enough to make export your only solar strategy. According to Ofgem’s Year 5 report, 443.1 GWh of low-carbon electricity export was reported and £56.97 million was paid to registered installations between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, up from £30.75 million in Year 4.

That growth is substantial, but the larger financial value still usually comes from self-consumption.

According to the same Ofgem report, exported electricity and payments both increased strongly year on year. That reflects more systems on tariffs and a broader range of offers, but it does not change the basic solar rule that using your own electricity on site is often worth more than exporting it at a low tariff.

For that reason, a sensible SEG watch in Q2 2026 should compare:

1. export payment potential
2. self-consumption with no battery
3. self-consumption with a battery
4. tariff restrictions linked to your import supplier

What Should Homeowners Watch in SEG Tariffs Right Now?

Homeowners should watch tariff structure, eligibility restrictions and import-linked conditions more closely than the headline export rate alone. According to Ofgem’s Year 5 report, 29 of the 50 available tariffs applied only to generators meeting additional criteria, which means some of the better-looking offers may not be open to every solar household.

That detail matters because headline comparisons can hide real switching friction.

The most useful checks are:

1. whether the tariff is open to all eligible generators
2. whether you must import from the same supplier
3. whether the tariff is fixed, variable or time-linked
4. whether battery use changes the value of exporting

According to Ofgem, the SEG is designed to encourage a competitive and innovative market, not to guarantee one fixed fair price set centrally. So Q2 2026 is still a market where households need to compare the actual tariff design and not assume one supplier’s export headline is universally the best option.

What Does Q2 2026 Mean for Solar Plus Battery Decisions?

Q2 2026 makes solar-plus-battery decisions more interesting because SEG growth is real, but self-consumption can still beat export-led economics in many homes. According to Ofgem’s Year 5 report, £56.97 million was paid through SEG, whilst GOV.UK’s Warm Homes Plan still points towards batteries as part of the mainstream low-carbon home-upgrade route.

That means the solar decision is no longer simply “panels or no panels”.

In practice, the comparison usually becomes:

1. export more and rely on SEG
2. self-consume more with a battery
3. stage the battery later
4. combine solar with wider electrification such as a heat pump

According to GOV.UK’s Warm Homes Plan technical annex, a typical household could save up to £550 a year from a package combining a heat pump, solar PV and battery storage. That figure should not be treated as a universal promise, but it does reinforce the direction of travel: exported electricity is useful, yet whole-system optimisation is becoming more important.

You may also want to read our heat pump and solar combo guide, complete guide to solar panels in the UK, and how solar panels reduce your electricity bill guide.

What Does This Mean for London and Surrey Homes?

For London and Surrey homes, SEG matters because electricity remains expensive enough for self-generated power to carry real value before export income is counted. According to Ofgem’s 1 April 2026 price-cap update, electricity averages 24.5p/kWh, so using your own solar power on site can still beat a weak export tariff.

That local relevance is strongest where:

1. daytime demand is meaningful
2. the household may add a battery
3. the roof is suitable for good solar output
4. the home is moving towards all-electric heating or EV charging

In practical terms, solar households in London and Surrey should treat SEG as one line in the economics, not the whole model. The strongest outcomes still usually come from a mix of lower imports, sensible export payments and good system sizing rather than from chasing export-only revenue.

How Electromatic Can Help

If you are comparing SEG tariffs or trying to work out whether battery storage changes the economics, Electromatic can assess the property and the likely use pattern properly. According to Ofgem and GOV.UK, the value of solar now depends on tariff choice, self-consumption and how the system fits your wider home-upgrade plan.

We help homeowners across London, Surrey and nearby TW areas decide whether the next step is solar, battery storage or a heat pump route supported by the BUS grant, subject to eligibility. We work under MCS certification via our accredited umbrella partner, so established low-carbon heating routes follow the correct compliance framework.

Book your free home survey →

Call us: 07718 059 284 | Email: admin@electromatic.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

SEG matters in Q2 2026 because the export market is now bigger and more varied than it used to be, but not every tariff is equally valuable. According to Ofgem’s Year 5 report, there were 50 tariffs from 11 licensees, which is why these are the practical questions worth checking.

How many SEG tariffs were available in the latest Ofgem report?

According to Ofgem, 50 SEG tariffs were available during SEG Year 5. Those tariffs came from 11 SEG licensees.

Can every solar household access the best SEG tariff?

Not always. Ofgem says 29 of the 50 tariffs in Year 5 applied only where additional criteria were met, so access depends on the tariff rules as well as on having an eligible system.

Is SEG income enough to make solar worthwhile on its own?

Usually SEG helps, but it is rarely the whole story. The strongest solar economics often come from reducing imports first and then treating export income as a secondary benefit.

Do I need a battery to benefit from SEG?

No. You can still benefit from SEG without a battery, but a battery may change the best balance between self-consumption and export depending on your home and tariff.

Is SEG still growing in 2026?

Yes, based on the latest official annual data. Ofgem reports strong year-on-year growth in tariffs, registered installations, exported electricity and total payments.

The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute financial, legal, or technical advice. Energy savings estimates are based on typical UK household data from the Energy Saving Trust and Ofgem (April 2026 price cap). Actual savings depend on your property type, insulation levels, energy usage patterns, and electricity tariff. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 is subject to eligibility criteria set by Ofgem — not all properties qualify. Electromatic M&E Ltd operates under MCS certification via an accredited umbrella partner. All installations comply with Building Regulations Part L and MCS standards. E&OE.

Written by Electromatic M&E Ltd — ASHP & Solar installer, London & Surrey (electromatic.uk)

Last updated: April 2026 | Electromatic M&E Ltd, Company No. 13837345