Microgeneration is the general term used to refer to small-scale generation of electricity from renewable technologies including but not limited to solar PV and wind power. This type of generation allows you to produce electricity in your home environment, as an alternative or supplement to electricity from the national energy grid.

As well as meeting some, or all, of your electricity needs, 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 home, 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 usage offtake and increasing the volume of renewable energy supplied to the grid you can actively contribute to a greener, cleaner Ireland while lowering 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 in your home, 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 home, 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. Please check your meter type and the criteria set out below.

For homes with a smart meter already installed.

• You must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

For homes who are eligible for a smart meter exchange:

• You must have a smart meter installed by ESBN
• You must complete an NC6 form with ESBN

For homes with other meter types (excluding eligible meter types):

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

Please note, you won’t be entitled to export payment related to microgeneration until the eligibility requirement have been met.

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.

Export payments will be made based upon the surplus energy generated at your home. If you have a smart meter the actual export (metered export) to the grid will be measured and you’ll be paid accordingly. For more information on smart meters please visit our Smart Meter section. All other meters will estimate the export value (deemed export) and you’ll be paid accordingly.

* If you have refused or refuse the installation of a smart meter, then you will not be eligible for a deemed export profile (see below). If you have refused or refuse the installation of a smart meter and now want to avail of the scheme, you must request the installation of a smart meter. This can be done through your supplier or ESBN.

Eligible customers with Microgen will receive a clean export tariff of 24cent per kWh payable twice yearly.

Your CEG payment will be based on a per kWh basis at 24 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 customers have any queries in relation to their VAT compliance obligations in relation to electricity exported, they should contact the Revenue Commissioners or CRU.

The export type is dependent on the meter you have at home. For example, a smart meter has a metered export type, meaning the actual energy generated is measured and payment is made accordingly. All other meters have what’s called a deemed export. This export type assumes that the majority of the electricity generated is being used in the home.

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 and therefore the surplus generated. Your energy provider has 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 Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

The following formula determines the Deemed Export Quantity:

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 you will need a smart meter to be eligible for actual metered exports.

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.

PPM customers

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

You’ll receive these payments as a top up and they will appear on your next statement as CEG payment. Our max top up amount is €100, in the event your CEG payment exceeds this limit we will have to issue you with 2 separate top up codes. If you either changed supplier or moved property within these times, you’ll still receive your CEG payment which will appear on your final statement. The rates applied to your export will be reviewed twice yearly.

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

Please note, 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.