Best UK home solar panel & battery tariffs 2026

Find the best 2026 solar + battery tariff for your home

Solar panels and home batteries can cut bills—but the tariff you pair them with matters. A "good" export rate can be offset by an expensive import unit rate, and a cheap night rate can be less useful if the peak window is long or the standing charge is high.

EnergyPlus compares whole-of-market UK home energy options to help you shortlist tariffs that suit how you generate, store and use electricity. We look at things like:

• Export payment (how much you get for electricity you send to the grid)
• Import price structure (single-rate, two-rate, time-of-use, or dynamic)
• Battery charging windows (off-peak times, weekend rates, and peak pricing)
• Eligibility (smart meter, MCS certification, supplier terms)
• Regional pricing (your distribution area affects rates and standing charges)

Maximise your export value

If you export a lot (summer generation, low daytime use), a strong export rate can materially improve your annual return.

Charge your battery cheaply

Battery owners can benefit from off-peak windows or time-of-use tariffs—especially in winter when solar generation drops.

Avoid tariff traps

A tempting export rate can come with a higher standing charge or expensive peak rates. We compare the whole picture.

Match tariff to your lifestyle

Home all day? You may use more solar directly. Out at work? Export and evening import matter more.

Prepare for EV add-ons

If an EV is on the horizon, a battery-friendly tariff can often align well with EV charging windows too.

Reduce bill volatility

Time-of-use and dynamic pricing can be powerful, but only if you understand risk and have the right meter setup.

Import: unit rate + standing charge

Your bill typically includes a daily standing charge plus a price per kWh. Time-of-use tariffs can split that unit rate into peak and off-peak windows.

Export: what you’re paid per kWh

Export tariffs pay you for surplus generation. Eligibility can depend on your installation paperwork and metering (often a smart meter).

Solar + battery, no EV

If you have solar plus a battery but no EV, Cosy Octopus + Outgoing Octopus is usually the strongest pairing. The three off-peak windows (4–7am, 1–4pm, 10pm–midnight) make winter battery charging straightforward, and 12p export gives a steady summer income. Octopus Go is the alternative if you want a single cheaper overnight window.

Solar + battery + EV

For households with all three, Intelligent Octopus Go + Outgoing Octopus is hard to beat at ~8p import overnight and 12p export. The 6-hour off-peak window is long enough to fully charge most home batteries and an EV.

Larger solar (5kWp+) and battery (5kWh+)

Intelligent Octopus Flux can push earnings highest by selling stored solar at peak time-of-use rates (up to 32.17p export). The catch: it’s currently paused for new sign-ups, and Octopus needs control of your battery to schedule discharges.

Loyal to your current supplier?

If you’d prefer to stay put, British Gas Export and Earn Plus (15.1p) and EDF Export Variable Value are the best supplier-tied export options. Pair with PeakSave or the Sunshine Tariff for free weekend daytime electricity.

Typically required

• MCS certification (or accepted equivalent) for the solar installation
• Smart meter capable of measuring export (often needed for accurate export readings)
• Proof of installation (commissioning documentation / certificates)
• UK residential supply address (this page is for home energy)

Often worth checking

• Whether the export tariff is available if you’re not an import customer of the same supplier
• Any contract length, exit fees or rate changes
• How export is paid (credit to bill vs separate payment) and payment frequency
• Whether your meter setup supports half-hourly billing for time-of-use or dynamic tariffs

Standing charges vary

A tariff with a higher standing charge can reduce the benefit of a strong export rate for lower-usage homes.

Unit rates can differ by area

If your daytime import rate is high, self-consumption from solar can be worth more—changing what “best” looks like.

Tariff availability varies

Not every supplier offers every tariff in every region, and some export options have eligibility limits.

1) Chasing the highest export rate only

If the import unit rate or standing charge is high, you can end up paying more overall—even with strong export earnings.

2) Ignoring peak-time pricing

Time-of-use tariffs can work brilliantly with batteries, but not if the peak window catches most of your evening use.

3) Not checking eligibility upfront

Some export tariffs require MCS proof and compatible metering. We help you confirm this before you switch.

4) Choosing a tariff that doesn’t fit your battery size

A short off-peak window may not fully charge a larger battery. A longer window might suit better—even if the headline rate is slightly higher.

What is the best tariff for solar and battery in the UK?

For most UK homes in 2026, Cosy Octopus paired with Outgoing Octopus is the strongest all-round option — three cheap import windows for charging the battery, plus a flat 12p/kWh export rate. If you also drive an EV, Intelligent Octopus Go + Outgoing Octopus typically wins on overnight charging cost (~8p). For larger systems (5kWp+ with battery), Intelligent Octopus Flux can earn more by exporting at peak rates — though it’s paused for new sign-ups.

Is Cosy Octopus or Octopus Flux better for solar+battery?

Cosy is simpler and pairs with Outgoing Octopus (12p flat export). Flux is more sophisticated — it actively trades your battery, exporting at peak times for up to 32.17p — but it requires Octopus to control the battery and a system of 5kWp+ to hit its potential. Most households do better on Cosy unless you have a large system and don’t mind giving up battery control.

Do I need a battery to benefit from a solar export tariff?

No — many households with solar panels only still benefit from export payments at 12–15p/kWh. A battery increases self-consumption (using more of your own solar) and lets you arbitrage cheap off-peak imports vs daytime grid rates, but it isn’t essential for getting paid for export.

Do I need a smart meter for solar and battery tariffs?

Yes — almost always. Export payments need a SMETS2 smart meter (or a compatible SMETS1) to measure what you send to the grid. Time-of-use import tariffs like Cosy and Flux also need half-hourly readings enabled. If you don’t have one, your supplier can usually arrange the install before switching.

Can I have different suppliers for import and export?

Sometimes — for example Octopus SEG Tariff (4.1p) and EDF Export Variable Value (3p) are open to all solar owners regardless of import supplier. But the highest export rates (Outgoing Octopus 12p, BG Export and Earn Plus 15.1p) are restricted to that supplier’s import customers. The trade-off: split suppliers gives more flexibility but typically lower rates.

What MCS or installation paperwork do I need?

Most export tariffs require MCS certification for the solar installation (or an equivalent recognised by Ofgem) plus your commissioning paperwork. Suppliers will ask for the MCS certificate number and a photo of the inverter/system when you sign up for an export tariff — have these to hand to speed up the switch.

Can I get a higher export rate after signing up?

If your installer offers an exclusive tariff (e.g. Good Energy Solar Savings Exclusive at 25p, OVO Solar & Battery Install Exclusive at 20p, EDF Export Exclusive at 24p), these are usually the highest rates available — but only for customers who installed through that company. Exclusive rates can be locked in for 12 months at signup, so worth asking before you commit to an installer.

Will time-of-use tariffs save me money with a battery?

Usually yes — but only if you can shift charging into the cheap windows. A 5kWh battery on Cosy Octopus (3 cheap windows) typically saves £200–£400/year vs a single-rate tariff. A larger battery on Flux can earn more by selling at peak. The exception: if you can’t shift much demand and you’re heavy in peak hours, a flat-rate tariff may work out cheaper.