The Smart Export Guarantee Order 2019, No. 1005 (as amended)

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Order 2019 is a UK government policy designed to encourage small-scale renewable energy generation by offering financial incentives to individuals and businesses that generate and export surplus electricity back to the grid.

The primary purpose of the Smart Export Guarantee is to promote the generation of renewable energy and incentivize the deployment of small-scale, low-carbon technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and other forms of distributed generation. By providing a financial return for surplus electricity exported to the grid, the SEG aims to make renewable energy investments more economically viable.

Requirements:

1. Eligible Technologies: The SEG applies to various forms of renewable energy generation, including but not limited to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines, hydroelectric systems, and anaerobic digestion.
2. Capacity Limit: To qualify for the SEG, installations must have a capacity of 5 MW or less. This is designed to support smaller-scale, decentralized renewable energy projects.
3. Metering: SEG participants must have an export meter installed, which measures the amount of surplus electricity fed back into the grid. This ensures accurate compensation for exported energy.
4. Accreditation: The renewable energy installation must be accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent standards, demonstrating compliance with quality and safety standards.
5. Energy Supplier: Participants must be supplied by an SEG-licensed energy supplier. These suppliers are obligated to offer a tariff for exported electricity, ensuring participants receive fair compensation.

The SEG is applicable to a wide range of stakeholders, including:

1. Homeowners: Individuals who have installed eligible renewable energy systems on their property and export surplus electricity to the grid.
2. Businesses: Commercial entities that have invested in renewable energy generation technologies and export excess power to the grid.
3. Farmers and Landowners: Those who have implemented renewable energy projects on their land, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
4. Community Energy Projects: SEG provides an opportunity for community-based renewable energy initiatives to receive compensation for surplus energy generation.

Overall, the SEG serves as a mechanism to support the transition towards a greener and more sustainable energy landscape in the UK, while also providing financial benefits to those investing in renewable energy technologies.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Order 2019 in the UK outlines specific evidence requirements that participants must meet in order to qualify for the scheme. These requirements are essential to ensure transparency, accuracy, and compliance with the program's objectives. Here is a summary of the key evidence requirements:

1. Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Equivalent Certification: Participants must provide evidence of accreditation under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or an equivalent certification scheme. This certification verifies that the renewable energy installation meets recognized quality and safety standards.
2. Capacity and Technology Documentation: Participants must furnish documentation that specifies the capacity of the renewable energy installation (5 MW or less) and the type of technology being used (e.g., solar PV, wind turbine, hydroelectric system, etc.).
3. Metering and Monitoring Data: Evidence of an export meter installation is required. This meter measures the amount of surplus electricity that is fed back into the grid. Participants should provide data from the export meter to accurately determine the quantity of electricity exported.
4. Energy Supplier Agreement: Participants must demonstrate that they are supplied by an SEG-licensed energy supplier. This agreement is crucial as it ensures that the participant is connected to a supplier that offers a tariff for exported electricity.
5. Exported Energy Records: Participants should maintain records of exported energy, including the dates, times, and quantities of electricity exported to the grid. These records serve as evidence for calculating payments.
6. Compliance with Relevant Regulations: Participants must provide evidence of compliance with any other relevant regulations or standards that apply to the renewable energy installation.
7. Submission of Required Documentation: All necessary evidence and documentation must be submitted in a timely manner as specified by the SEG scheme administrators. This may include periodic reporting of meter readings and other relevant data.

Meeting these evidence requirements is essential for participants to be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee scheme. It ensures that participants are generating renewable energy in a manner that aligns with the program's goals and allows for accurate compensation for surplus electricity exported to the grid.