Exporting electricity

When a photovoltaic system is producing more energy than is required, the surplus is exported via the grid and sold back to the utility company. This page explains the metering options, ROCS and provides details of energy companies operating 'BuyBack' schemes.

Metering Options

Total Generation Meter
An Ofgem approved kilowatt-hour (kWh) meter is installed with all Solarcentury systems which gives a running total of the energy in kWh that the system has generated. It is possible to enter into a buy back agreement based on the total energy generation of the system and this meter gives that reading.

Export Meter
An export meter can be installed which calculates the amount of electricity being exported rather than total generated. Exported energy is the extra energy produced by the renewable generator which is exported to the electricity network after the site (i.e. home, commercial property) has met its energy demand. The electricity company will pay for each kWh exported. The electricity company will stipulate if the meter is to be read by the owner or their own meter reader and whether the system owner will be paid annually or bi-annually. Export meters can be purchased from and installed by a local area meter operator.

Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)

Since 1 April 2004, all renewable generators, independent of size, have been entitled to receive ROCs. Awarded by Ofgem, the electricity regulator, ROCs have a market value approximately 3 - 5 p/kWh. One ROC is awarded for every 1000 kWh (1 MWh) of renewable electricity produced. These can be claimed on an annual basis from Ofgem.

From 2009, two ROCs will be awarded for every 1 MWh of renewable electricity produced (Subject to Parliamentary approval - expected Autumn 2008). ROCs are rounded up to the nearest MWh from 0.5 MWh upwards. For example, a system generating 0.5 MWh annually will receive one ROC accreditation from Ofgem.

ROCs can be managed in different ways. Increasingly, companies are acting as ROC agents, claiming ROCs from Ofgem on behalf of customers. Where this is the case, payment tariffs to customers include for ROC awards and customers do not need to claim these themselves. Some electricity companies do not claim ROCs on customer’s behalf and it is the responsibility of the customer to claim and sell their own ROCs.

*The current ROC value is circa £45 and ROCs can be claimed for the life of the system. From 2009 onwards every 1MWhr will be eligible for 2 ROC's (ie £90).

*The value of ROCs is predicted to rise as the demand for renewable energy increases. ROC can provide a guaranteed income stream that can be claimed by the owner of the system.

Energy Companies Operating BuyBack Schemes

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), Solar Energy Plus Scheme

• Scheme for householders and small businesses
• Export meter to be installed
• System size 5 kWp or less
• Payment is a fixed rate for exported electricity at 20p/kWh
• SSE to act as ROC agent on customer’s behalf
• Contact Sarah Braddon or Tony Collings on microgeneration@scottish-southern.co.uk or call 02920 249 065
• www.scottish-southern.co.uk

Good Energy, Home Generation Scheme

• Scheme for householders
• Total generation meter to be installed
• Payment is for all electricity generated at 9p/kWh
• Customers to claim own ROCS
• Contact homegen@good-energy.co.uk or call: 0845 456 1640

Good Energy, Smart Generation Scheme

• For large household systems and businesses
• System size over 6kWp generating over 5MWh annually
• Tariff project specific and quotation provided upon request
• Customer to claim ROCs from Ofgem and transfer to Good Energy
• Contact rebecca.brown@good-energy.co.uk or call 01249 766 772

E-on, Solarnet Scheme

• Scheme for householders
• Export meter or Total Generation Meter to be installed
• Payment at the secondary rate that customers pay themselves to E-on for their own standard electricity tariffs
• Rates are based on region of which there are thirteen
• Schedules are supplied indicating when customers are to telephone E-on with meter readings or when E-on will make estimates
• Payment calculations are made and a cheque is sent to customer
• Customers to claim own ROCs
• Contact: Harjit Baines on 0800 183 1222 ext 53131
• www.eonenergy.com

EDF, Power Purchase Scheme

• Power Purchase Flexible Scheme for householders
• Export meter to be installed
• Payment 7.64 p/kWh exported
• Customers to claim own ROCs
• Contact greenenergy@edfenergy.com or call 0800 051 1905
• Power Purchase Total Generation Scheme for householders
• Total generation meter to be installed
• System size 5 kWp or less
• Payment 5p/kWh for all electricity generated
• EDF to act as ROC agent on customer’s behalf
• Power Purchase Total Generation Scheme for small and large businesses
• Total generation meter to be installed
• Maximum system size 30 kWp
• Payment 4.5p/kWh for all electricity generated
• EDF to act as ROC agent on customer’s behalf
• Alternative scheme: £10 awarded/kWp

Npower, Micro Generation Scheme

• Scheme for householders
• Either export meter or total generation meter to be installed
• If total generation meter installed Npower buy back 50% of all electricity produced
• Average payment 12p/kWh
• Meter readings are taken twice a year in April and October and a personal cheque is issued
• Customers must be Npower Juice customers and meter rates are paid as per Juice rates which vary regionally
• Customers to claim own ROCs from Ofgem. Npower offer to buy Rocs from customers at £34/MWh
• Contact thomas.harris@npower.com or call 01905 340646
• www.npower.com see Juice section

Companies Trading ROCs

Trade Link Solutions, Micro Generation Scheme

• For system sizes 50 kWp and below
• Trade Link to act as ROC agent on customer’s behalf
• Either £35 awarded per ROC with annual administration fee of £25 or
• £40 awarded per ROC with annual administration fee of £50
• An initial joining fee of £100 is required
• Contact Sue Newcomb on newcomb@tradelinksolutions.com
• For system sizes above 50 kWp awards and contracts are project specific and quotations are available upon request
• Contact Fiona Hildick on hildick@tradelinksolutions.com
• General office number 01923 713840
• www.tradelinksolutions.com

Please note that response times from different companies can vary due to demand. This information was correct at the time of publishing please refer to each utility for the most up to date deals.