Microgeneration is the general term used to refer to small-scale generation of electricity from renewable technologies, such as solar PV, wind power and combined heat and power (CHP). This type of generation allows customers to produce their own electricity on site, as an alternative or supplement to electricity imported from the grid.

As well as meeting some, or all, of your electricity demand, as of early 2022 microgeneration took a step forward with the introduction of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). This means that while the majority of the energy produced will be used to power your property, from time to time, when there is surplus electricity from your microgeneration you can export this to the grid and receive a payment for it. By reducing your offtake and increasing the volume of renewable energy supplied to the grid you can actively contribute to a greener, cleaner Ireland while reducing your own energy bills. A great deal for you and a great deal for the environment.

If you’re interested in installing microgeneration or solar PV at your property, please visit our partners Activ8 Solar Energies.

The clean export Guarantee (CEG) means that while the majority of the energy produced will be used to power your property, from time to time, when there is surplus electricity from your microgeneration you can export this to the grid and receive a payment for it.

Whether you are eligible for the scheme depends on a number of factors. A customer will not be entitled to the export payment until they meet the eligibility criteria set out below.

For customers with a smart meter already installed.

• They must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

For customers with a 24hr (MCC01, MCC12, MCC16) meter currently in place.

• They must have a smart meter installed by ESBN and will be eligible for payment once installed.
• They must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

For customers with other meter types (excluding 24hr meters & smart meters)

• ESBN will provide a deemed export (detailed below)
• They must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

Any customer with a smart meter will have actual export to the grid measured and will be paid accordingly. All other customers will be paid according to a deemed (estimated) export value.

*If a customer has refused or refuses the installation of a smart meter, then they will not be eligible for a deemed export profile (see below). If a customer has refused or refuses the installation of a smart meter and now wants to avail of the scheme, they must request the installation of a smart meter, this can be done through their supplier or ESBN .

To be eligible for payments, ESB Networks first need to be notified of your microgeneration install so they can start recording your export to the grid. This is done by completing an NC6 form. This would have been completed with your technician at the time of installation.

However, if you’re not sure if the NC6 form has previously been submitted, please contact ESB Networks. If an NC6 form has not been submitted, please contact your installation company to complete this and return to ESB Networks as soon as possible.

Download a NC6 Microgeneration Form here.

For a step-by-step guide on Microgen connection, please contact ESB Networks.

As of June 2022, we are offering a rate of 24cent per kWh produced.

Your CEG payment will be based on a per kWh basis at 14 cent per unit. There is no published guidance for customers in relation to the VAT treatment of electricity exported to the grid by customers.

If you have any queries in relation to their VAT compliance obligations in relation to electricity exported, they should contact the Revenue Commissioners or CRU 

A customer’s payment will be decided based on whether they have a smart meter or not in place. Any customer with a smart meter will have actual export to the grid measured and will be paid accordingly.

All other customers will be paid according to a deemed export value. This takes account of the assumption that the majority of the electricity generated is being used at your property. This calculation has been decided by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with government oversight. There is no mechanism to change this amount except for the installation of a smart meter to record actual consumption. Suppliers have no role in determining this export value . 

The calculation of the deemed export is based on the following factors and has been set by the CRU.

Deemed Export Quantity= MEC x Capacity Factor x Export Factor x Provision Interval

MEC – This will come from the NC6 form which the customer is required to submit to ESBN.
Capacity Factor – This is based on a calculation from the CRU and is set at 9.7%
Export Factor – This is based on a calculation from the CRU and is set at 35%
Provisional interval – This is a calculation used for solar installations that takes account of how Microgeneration works in practice during the day and from season to season.

It’s important to note that as customers transition towards eligibility for a smart meter, they will also move towards actual export data.

Credit Customers

Customers owed payment from 2022 have now had their accounts credited in January 2023. This payment was calculated between the months of February to September 2022 (customers eligible during these months will have been paid accordingly).

The next payment for 2023 will be applied in May. This payment will be for the months October 2022 to April 2023 (customers eligible during these months will be paid accordingly).

The third payment for 2023 will be applied in November. This payment will be for the months May to October 2023 (customers eligible during these months will be paid accordingly).

This credit payment will appear on your bill as CEG payment. Once the credit is applied to your account, this will appear on your next bill. If you either changed supplier or moved property within these times, you’ll still receive your CEG payment which will appear on your final bill. The rates applied to your export will be reviewed twice yearly.

Your export data will be applied as a credit on your SSE Airtricity account. This payment will be credited towards your upcoming invoice and will appear as CEG Payment after the credit is applied to your account. 

For customers that are not yet eligible for a smart meter:

• ESBN will provide a deemed (estimated) export
• You must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

If a customer has refused or refuses the installation of a smart meter, then they will not be eligible for a deemed export profile. If a customer has refused or refuses the installation of a smart meter and now wants to avail of the scheme, they must request the installation of a smart meter, this can be done through their supplier or ESBN.