What is microgeneration?

Learn more with Bord Gáis Energy

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What is microgeneration?

Microgeneration refers to small-scale generation of electricity by households or small businesses to meet their own needs, in addition to their existing electricity supply. This is known as “self-consumption”. 

The most common form of microgeneration and one you may be familiar with is solar panels, however there are different types of microgeneration technologies available.

Export and earn with Bord Gáis Energy 

Customers of Bord Gáis Energy are now entitled to a payment for any electricity exported to the national grid.

We are offering our customers, both business and homeowners, 18.5 cent per kWh for any excess electricity that they are microgenerating and exporting to the electricity grid under our Microgen Export Plan. This rate will be offered to both metered and eligible deemed* customers.

Payments

  • To receive a payment, you’ll need to agree to our Microgen Export Plan T&Cs
  • If you were a Bord Gáis Energy customer on February 15th 2022 (date of legislation) and microgenerating at that time, your payment will be back-dated.
  • If you joined us after February 15th 2022, payments will be back-dated to when you became an eligible customer. 
  • All payments will be based on the data provided to us by ESB Networks.  
  • Once you’ve exported for 6 months, payment will be made as a credit on your electricity bill. We started making our first payments from March 2023.
  • If you’re eligible for a smart meter, you’ll need to have one installed to qualify for a payment.

* Deemed customers are customers who are not eligible under the National Smart Metering Program to have a smart meter installed.  In this case, your export amount will be calculated (deemed) using a pre-determined formula.

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Bord Gáis Energy are supporting our customers take-up of microgeneration technologies and move towards net zero. 

Sign up for a microgeneration plan

You can now switch to a microgen plan by signing into your online account. 

Sign in now and choose to receive a payment for exporting your surplus energy to the grid. Terms and conditions apply.

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Who is eligible for the scheme?

  • To qualify for an export payment with Bord Gáis Energy, you must have Bord Gáis Energy as your energy supplier. Please go to our plans page to see our available offers.
  • You must have a microgenerator installed (i.e. solar PV, micro - wind, micro-hydro or renewable micro-CHP)
  • You must have notified ESBN of your microgeneration connection to the grid (via an NC6 form or equivalent). If you are not sure whether your installer has completed this form, contact ESBN networks to confirm. 
  • If you are eligible to have a smart meter installed during this phase, then you will need a smart meter to be paid for your export. Where customers are eligible to have a smart meter installed, ESB Networks will endeavour to install a smart meter within four months of a valid NC6 form being processed by ESB Networks. 
  • If you are not eligible to have a smart meter installed during this phase of the rollout, then you will be paid based on a deemed export calculation.

Learn more

For more information please visit our Help section or check out our most popular questions around microgeneration below.

Types of microgeneration technologies

Microgeneration involves installing a small generator powered by a renewable source such as wind, solar or hydropower, and connecting this to the electricity network.

What is Solar PV?

Solar PV systems generate electricity during daylight hours only, predominately around the middle of the day. In Ireland, around 75% is produced from May to September. If this electricity is not used in the home it is exported to the grid. 

A solar electric system (PV) is typically made up of:

  • Rooftop solar panels, which generate DC (direct current – like in a battery).
  • An ‘Inverter’ which converts this to AC (alternating current – like the electricity in your house socket).
  • Sometimes a battery on larger systems to save energy for later use.

What is Micro-wind?

Micro-wind generation is a method of microgeneration that uses the flow of wind energy to produce renewable electricity for a house or farm. The wind turbines are much smaller in scale than those used in conventional wind generation, so they are suitable for domestic customers or small businesses.

What is Micro-hydro?

Micro-hydro generation requires a flow of water to generate renewable electricity. The flow of water is used to drive a turbine or pump which converts the flow to energy. An alternator is then used to transform this energy into electricity.

What is Micro-CHP Combined Heat and Power?

Micro combined Heat and Power is an efficient solution that captures the heat created through electricity generation, producing on-site heat and power at the same time.  CHP systems are normally sized to meet heat demands, and used in sectors with a high heat demand, such as hotels or swimming pools.

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Benefits of microgeneration

Savings from Solar Energy
  • On average, a solar PV system can save between €200-300 per year on your domestic electricity bill.*
  • If you sign up to an export tariff with Bord Gáis Energy, you can earn money by selling excess electricity you are not using to the grid. Bord Gáis Energy will pay you an export rate per kWh exported. See our FAQ on microgeneration for more details of the microgeneration payments and to see what you are eligible for.

*Source: SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)

Contribute to carbon-reduction targets
    • Microgeneration using renewable technologies reduces reliance on carbon energy sources and helps move towards a more sustainable future

You can now sign up for a microgeneration plan by signing into your online account. Sign in and choose to receive a payment for exporting your surplus energy to the grid. 

Terms and conditions apply

Sign in
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Thinking of investing in microgeneration? 

What is the Micro-Generation Support Scheme?

As part of its Climate Action Plan 2021, the Irish government announced the launch of the Micro-Generation Support Scheme, which aims to incentivise homes, businesses, farms, and communities in Ireland to reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable generation technologies to produce their own clean energy. 

A range of grants and supports were made available to boost Ireland's energy transition and encourage investment in micro-generators such as solar installations, micro-wind and micro-hydro power sources for renewable energy. 

For further information on the grant scheme visit the SEAI's grant information hub. You can find more details on the government support scheme on gov.ie.

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