A comprehensive guide to the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) in Ireland — what it is, prerequisites, the smart meter requirement, how tariff rates vary by supplier, the tax exemption, and what installers should explain to homeowners.
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) is the Irish government's scheme under which electricity suppliers are required to pay homeowners for surplus electricity that their solar PV system exports to the national grid. It came into effect in late 2022 and is administered through a combination of ESB Networks and the individual electricity retail suppliers.
In practical terms: when your homeowner's solar panels generate more electricity than the home is using at a given moment, the surplus flows back into the grid. Under the CEG, the electricity supplier pays the homeowner a per-unit tariff for every kilowatt-hour exported. This turns the roof into a small revenue stream.
For Irish solar PV installers, the CEG is a key selling point — it is part of the financial case for going solar, alongside the SEAI grant and reduced electricity bills. Understanding how it works, and being able to explain it accurately to homeowners, distinguishes professional installers from those who oversimplify.
Not every solar installation automatically qualifies for CEG payments. The homeowner must meet several prerequisites:
The solar installation must be registered with ESB Networks through the NC6 Microgeneration Notification process. Until the NC6 is accepted by ESB Networks, there is no official record of the microgeneration system on the network, and the supplier cannot offer the CEG tariff.
The NC6 should be submitted immediately after commissioning. Delays in submitting the NC6 delay the homeowner's ability to access CEG payments.
The homeowner must have a smart meter installed by ESB Networks. The smart meter records half-hourly consumption and export data, which is used to calculate the export volume for billing purposes.
If the homeowner does not already have a smart meter, they must request one from ESB Networks. ESB Networks rolled out smart meters to most Irish homes as part of the national smart metering programme, but if the property missed this rollout (particularly older rural properties), the homeowner needs to request installation.
Smart meter installation by ESB Networks is free to the homeowner. However, there can be lead times — sometimes several months — if the area is not yet on the rollout schedule.
Installer implication: Always ask the homeowner if they have a smart meter at the initial consultation. If not, advise them to request one from ESB Networks immediately — before the solar installation, if possible, to avoid a post-installation wait.
The electricity account at the MPRN must be in the homeowner's name. If the account is in a landlord's name or another occupant's name, the CEG payment will be directed to that account holder, not the homeowner who owns the solar system.
See our MPRN guide for more on how MPRN registration affects CEG eligibility.
The homeowner must contact their electricity supplier and request to be put on a CEG tariff. The supplier is legally required to offer a CEG tariff, but it doesn't happen automatically — the homeowner must apply.
The CEG rate is not fixed by the government. SEAI sets a minimum export price floor, but individual suppliers set their own rates above this floor. As of 2025, CEG rates in Ireland range from approximately 18c/kWh to 24c/kWh depending on the supplier.
This means the homeowner's income from export depends on which supplier they are with. The common suppliers and their approximate current CEG rates (subject to change):
| Supplier | Approximate CEG Rate (2025) |
|---|---|
| Electric Ireland | ~21c/kWh |
| Bord Gáis Energy | ~24c/kWh |
| SSE Airtricity | ~22c/kWh |
| Energia | ~20c/kWh |
| PrePayPower | ~18c/kWh |
These rates are indicative and subject to change. Advise homeowners to compare current rates directly with suppliers.
Installers should advise homeowners to compare CEG rates across suppliers when going solar, as switching supplier after installation to access a better CEG rate is straightforward. The potential income difference — 4–6c/kWh across thousands of exported kWh per year — is meaningful.
The amount the homeowner exports depends on:
Rough rule of thumb: a well-sized 4–6 kWp system on a south-facing roof in Ireland generates approximately 3,500–5,000 kWh/year. A typical Irish home uses 4,200 kWh/year. The export fraction varies widely — 20–50% of generation is a common range, depending on consumption patterns.
At 21c/kWh, exporting 1,500 kWh/year yields approximately €315/year in CEG income. This supplements the electricity bill savings (replacing imported grid electricity worth ~26–32c/kWh during generation periods).
Revenue Ireland provides a tax exemption on CEG income for residential microgeneration properties:
For the vast majority of homeowners with a domestic solar PV system, the annual CEG income will be well below €400 — meaning no tax liability arises. This is a valuable reassurance to give homeowners who worry about the tax implications of receiving payments from their supplier.
If a homeowner has a very large system (above 10–12 kWp) or an unusually high export profile, the €400 threshold may be relevant — but for standard domestic 4–6 kWp systems earning €150–€350 in export income annually, the tax exemption covers the full amount.
At the post-installation handover, cover these points with every homeowner:
"Your NC6 form has been submitted to ESB Networks." — Let them know the registration process is underway, and that they should hear back within a few weeks.
"You need a smart meter to receive CEG payments." — Ask if they have one and, if not, advise them to contact ESB Networks to request installation.
"Contact your electricity supplier to apply for the CEG tariff." — Give them the name of the tariff (some suppliers call it the "Clean Export Guarantee", others have branded names). Suggest they compare rates across suppliers first.
"The CEG pays you per unit of electricity you export to the grid." — Current rates range from 18c to 24c/kWh depending on supplier.
"The first €400 of CEG income per year is tax-free (to end of 2028)." — For most homeowners, the full CEG income will be within this threshold.
"Once your smart meter is installed and you're on a CEG tariff, payments are processed automatically." — No ongoing admin for the homeowner.
The NC6 and the CEG are linked at the system registration stage. ESB Networks' records (populated when the NC6 is accepted) confirm to suppliers that a solar system is connected at a given MPRN. Without this confirmation, suppliers cannot offer the CEG tariff.
This is why prompt NC6 submission is important not just for SEAI compliance but for the homeowner's financial interests. Delays in NC6 submission mean delays in CEG access.
Read the full NC6 guide →
Understand the MPRN and its role →
How Circaidian automates NC6 submission paperwork →
The CEG is separate from the SEAI residential Solar PV grant. The grant is a one-time payment to reduce the upfront installed cost; the CEG is an ongoing payment for exported electricity.
Homeowners sometimes conflate the two. A simple distinction:
Both can apply to the same installation. A homeowner can receive the SEAI grant AND the CEG — they are complementary, not mutually exclusive.
Circaidian automatically generates your NC6 Microgeneration Notification, Declaration of Works Part 1, and Inspection, Test & Commissioning Part 2 from your Scoops report. One upload, three compliant forms, seconds not hours.
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