Quick answer: In 2026, Octopus offers three main Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) routes. Outgoing Fixed pays a flat ~15p/kWh — the simplest, highest baseline rate. Outgoing Agile and Intelligent Octopus Flux pay variable rates that peak up to ~27p/kWh, rewarding battery owners who export at peak. Your best choice depends on whether you have storage.
How Octopus export tariffs work in 2026
Under the Smart Export Guarantee (Ofgem), every energy supplier with 150,000+ customers must offer an export tariff that pays you for surplus solar electricity sent back to the grid. To qualify you need an MCS-certified solar installation and a smart meter recording half-hourly. Octopus is widely regarded as the strongest SEG payer in the UK, and it runs three distinct tariffs aimed at different households. For a wider market view across all suppliers, see our roundup of the best SEG rates 2026.
Octopus SEG rates 2026 compared
| Tariff | Rate structure | Indicative rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outgoing Fixed | Flat, all day | ~15p/kWh | Solar-only homes, no battery |
| Outgoing Agile | Half-hourly, tracks wholesale | ~1p–27p/kWh (peak) | Battery owners who time exports |
| Intelligent Octopus Flux | Import + export bundle, peak/off-peak bands | Up to ~27p/kWh peak export | Solar + battery, full optimisation |
Indicative — verified June 2026, check Octopus for current rates before switching. SEG rates across UK suppliers range from ~1p to ~27p/kWh.
Outgoing Fixed (~15p flat)
The set-and-forget option. You're paid the same ~15p/kWh whenever you export, with no timing required. For a typical Yorkshire home exporting 40–60% of a 4kW array's ~3,400–3,650 kWh annual output, that's a meaningful, predictable credit. If you don't have a battery, Outgoing Fixed is almost always the right pick — there's no way to shift solar export to a peak window, so a variable tariff offers no upside.
Outgoing Agile (variable, up to ~27p)
Agile prices track the half-hourly wholesale market, published a day ahead. Rates can dip near 1p in the sunny middle of the day (when everyone's solar floods the grid) and spike toward 27p during the evening peak. On its own, this is poor for solar-only homes — you generate most when prices are low. It only shines when paired with storage, letting you hold solar in a battery and discharge to the grid when prices peak.
Intelligent Octopus Flux (up to ~27p peak)
Flux is a combined import-and-export tariff built specifically for solar-and-battery homes. It pays a premium export rate during the evening peak (up to ~27p/kWh) and offers cheap overnight import so you can top up storage. The platform can automate the charge/discharge cycle, maximising arbitrage with little effort. For households serious about return on their solar battery storage, Flux typically delivers the strongest blended economics of the three.
Who wins? Battery vs no battery
- Solar only, no battery: Outgoing Fixed at ~15p. Simple, reliable, and you can't exploit peak pricing without storage anyway.
- Solar + battery: Agile or Flux. You charge the battery from cheap daytime/overnight power, then export at the evening peak for up to ~27p — classic time-of-use (TOU) arbitrage. Flux bundles favourable import rates too, so it's usually the cleanest all-in deal.
The economics of arbitrage are straightforward: import overnight at a low off-peak rate, store it, and export the equivalent at peak. The spread between the two — potentially 20p+/kWh — is your margin, on top of exporting genuine solar surplus.
The kit that makes arbitrage work
TOU arbitrage needs a battery that charges and discharges fast and intelligently. Two systems YEERS installs frequently:
| Battery | Type | Capacity | Warranty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigenergy SigenStor | All-in-one (inverter + modular battery) | 5–48 kWh | ~15 years | Optional DC EV charger; true whole-home backup |
| Solax Triple Power | AC/hybrid | Modular | ~10 years | Pairs within Solax inverter ecosystem; strong value |
Typical installed battery cost runs ~£700–£950 per usable kWh. A battery plus a peak-paying export tariff is what turns a solar payback of ~7–11 years into the faster end of that range.
Costs, VAT and grants
A typical 4kW solar system costs £6,200–£8,200 installed, covering roughly 60–75% of a home's electricity. Crucially, 0% VAT applies to domestic solar PV and battery storage — including standalone batteries — until 31 March 2027, when it reverts to 5% (HMRC VAT Notice 708/6). Note the date: many rivals wrongly cite 31 January 2027. The 0% rate covers supply-and-install for residential properties. Batteries are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (that £7,500 grant applies to heat pumps), so installing storage now — while VAT is zero — sharpens the case for a battery-plus-SEG setup.
How to switch to an Octopus export tariff
- Have an MCS certificate for your solar (and battery, if applicable).
- Ensure a smart meter is installed and reading half-hourly export.
- Apply via Octopus for your chosen tariff — you don't have to buy your import energy from them to use Outgoing, though Flux bundles both.
- Review rates periodically; SEG rates are not fixed by Ofgem and suppliers adjust them.
YEERS is a Hull-based, MCS-certified installer covering Hull, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with a 10-year workmanship warranty. If you'd like a system specified to maximise your export earnings, request a quote and we'll model the right battery and tariff combination for your roof and usage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Octopus SEG rate in 2026?
For solar-only homes, Octopus Outgoing Fixed at around 15p/kWh is the best choice — it's a flat, predictable rate paid all day with no timing required. For homes with a battery, Outgoing Agile or Intelligent Octopus Flux can pay up to around 27p/kWh at the evening peak, making them more lucrative if you can shift exports. Rates are indicative and verified June 2026; check Octopus for current figures.
Is Octopus Outgoing Fixed or Agile better?
It depends on whether you have battery storage. Without a battery, Outgoing Fixed (~15p flat) wins because you generate most solar in the middle of the day when Agile's variable prices are lowest. With a battery, Agile can be better — you store cheap power and export it during the evening peak when Agile rates climb toward 27p/kWh.
Do I need a battery to benefit from Intelligent Octopus Flux?
Yes, effectively. Flux is built for solar-and-battery homes: it pays a premium peak export rate and offers cheap overnight import to charge storage. Without a battery you can't shift export to the high-paying peak window, so a flat tariff like Outgoing Fixed would usually serve a solar-only home better.
What do I need to qualify for an Octopus SEG tariff?
You need an MCS-certified solar installation and a smart meter capable of recording half-hourly export readings. Under the Smart Export Guarantee, Ofgem requires suppliers with 150,000+ customers to offer an export tariff, and Octopus is one of the strongest payers. You don't always have to buy your import energy from Octopus to use an Outgoing tariff.
How does battery time-of-use arbitrage work with Octopus tariffs?
You charge your battery from cheap power — either overnight off-peak import or daytime solar surplus — then discharge to the grid during the evening peak when export rates can reach around 27p/kWh. The spread between your low import or generation cost and the high peak export rate is your profit, on top of exporting genuine solar surplus. This is easiest to automate on Intelligent Octopus Flux.
Is there still 0% VAT on solar batteries in 2026?
Yes. 0% VAT applies to domestic solar PV and battery storage — including standalone batteries — until 31 March 2027, after which it reverts to 5% (HMRC VAT Notice 708/6). Note the correct date is 31 March 2027; some sources wrongly state 31 January 2027. This makes 2026 a strong time to add a battery and pair it with a peak-paying Octopus export tariff.
Last updated June 2026 · YEERS — MCS-certified renewable installers, Hull & Yorkshire.
