Is Solar Still Worth It Without SEG? The Honest Answer

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) gets mentioned a lot when people talk about solar — sometimes as if it’s the main reason to bother at all.

It isn’t.

So the fair question is: if SEG payments disappeared tomorrow, would solar still be worth it in Scotland?

Short answer: yes — for the right homes.
Long answer: because SEG was never the main event anyway.

Let’s explain why.

What SEG Actually Does (Quick Refresher)

SEG pays you for excess electricity your solar panels export back to the grid.

That’s electricity you:

• Generate
• Don’t use yourself
• Send elsewhere

You get paid a small amount per unit, depending on your supplier.

Useful? Yes.
Transformational? No.

Where Solar Savings Really Come From

This is the key bit that often gets missed.

Solar saves money mainly by:

• Letting you use your own electricity
• Avoiding buying that electricity from the grid

Every unit you use yourself is one you don’t pay full price for.

SEG only applies to the leftovers.

So if your solar setup is designed properly:

• Most value comes from self-use
• SEG is just a bonus on top

That’s been true since day one.

Would Solar Still Make Sense Without SEG?

For many homes, yes — because:

• Grid electricity is expensive
• Solar-generated electricity isn’t
• Self-use is where the value sits

Even without SEG:

• Bills still come down
• Grid reliance still drops
• Long-term savings still build

Solar worked before SEG, and it works with or without it.

Who Would Feel the Loss of SEG Most?

SEG matters more if:

• Your system is oversized
• You export a lot
• You don’t have a battery
• You’re rarely home during the day

In these cases, SEG helps mop up excess generation.

If SEG disappeared, the solution wouldn’t be panic — it would be better system design, often involving smaller systems or batteries.

Batteries Change the Equation

With a battery:

• More solar gets used at home
• Less is exported
• SEG becomes less important

In battery-backed systems, SEG is often a footnote rather than a foundation.

That’s why modern solar thinking focuses more on self-consumption than export income.

The Scottish Context (Always Matters)

In Scotland:

• Winter output is lower
• Annual generation still adds up
• Long-term thinking beats quick wins

SEG income here is typically modest. Losing it wouldn’t break a good solar system — it would just slightly reduce the icing on the cake.

The cake would still be there.

A Common Sales Myth to Watch For

If someone says:

“You need SEG to make solar worthwhile”

they’re oversimplifying — or selling badly designed systems.

Good solar doesn’t rely on:

• Tariffs staying perfect forever
• Policy remaining unchanged
• Export payments doing the heavy lifting

It relies on sensible self-use.

So… What Happens If SEG Changes or Ends?

If SEG rates drop — or even disappear:

• Well-designed solar still saves money
• Poorly designed solar feels the hit

That’s why design matters more than policy headlines.

The Bottom Line

SEG is helpful — but it’s not the reason solar works.

Solar is worth it because:

• You generate your own electricity
• You use less from the grid
• You gain long-term control over costs

SEG is a bonus, not a lifeline.

If your solar system only works because of SEG, something’s off.

👉 Want to See a Solar Setup That Works With or Without SEG?

The strongest solar systems don’t depend on export payments — they depend on good design.

Compare solar options and see what works for your home — with realistic savings, no policy panic.