How Octopus Energy Tariffs Work with Solar Panels: What You Should Know

As UK homeowners increasingly turn to solar panel installation to fight back against rising energy prices, many soon realise that choosing the right energy tariff is just as crucial as choosing the right panels or battery. 

With solar power panel installation growing rapidly, understanding how to integrate these systems with the right Octopus Energy tariffs can significantly boost the financial return on your investment — whether that’s saving money on imported electricity or getting paid fairly for excess energy sent back to the grid.

Octopus Energy is one of the UK’s largest and greenest suppliers, serving over 6.5 million customers and known for offering some of the most innovative and solar-friendly tariffs on the market. 

As an Octopus Partner, Viable Power works closely with homeowners to ensure their solar panel installations fully align with these advanced tariffs, unlocking maximum value from both solar energy storage batteries and solar PV.

In this article, we explore how Octopus tariffs work, what options are available, and how Viable Power can help you optimise your systems to take advantage of this unique partnership.

Why Tariffs Matter for Solar Panel Owners

When you install solar panels, you’re generating electricity to use in your home and cutting down reliance on the National Grid. But there are times when your panels will produce more than you need, especially in summer, and times when you’ll still need to import power, especially during winter nights. 

The right combination of import and export tariffs will determine how much you pay for energy you still need to buy and how much you’re paid for the surplus energy you export. In this way, solar renewable energy is a dynamic tool which can go a long way to reducing your overall  long-term energy costs.

If you have a solar battery, how you charge and discharge that battery to align with tariffs can greatly affect your savings too.

Octopus Energy’s Import Tariffs for Solar Panel Homes

For homes with solar panel installation in the UK, Octopus offers several unique import tariffs that reduce the cost of energy when solar can’t fully meet demand.

Agile Octopus is a smart tariff that changes every half hour based on wholesale electricity prices.  If you’re flexible about when you use energy — for instance, if you can run appliances during periods of low prices — this tariff can save you money. Combined with a solar energy storage battery, you can even charge your battery when prices are cheapest and use that stored energy during more expensive peak hours, reducing your grid reliance dramatically.

Octopus Go, originally designed for EV owners, offers cheap overnight rates (currently from 2am to 5am). This is perfect if you have a solar battery: you can fill your battery with low-cost grid energy when the sun isn’t shining, and use that energy during the day when prices are high.

Octopus Tracker offers transparency by linking prices to wholesale markets and giving customers a daily forecast for the next day (SolarMate). This gives savvy solar users insights to adjust their usage patterns, combining solar and grid in a smart way.

Environmentally focused customers may choose Super Green Octopus to ensure 100% renewable electricity is imported when needed. This option guarantees that even when you’re drawing from the grid, you’re supporting clean energy — matching your solar commitment.

Lastly, Cosy Octopus is tailored for homes with heat pumps and solar panels, offering three generous off-peak periods throughout the day — including a low daytime rate. This setup is especially helpful in winter, when solar production may dip and additional grid electricity is needed to support heat pump heating.

These tariffs are great  for homeowners pursuing energy efficient home improvements as they allow you to tailor usage to your specific needs while saving on bills and reducing carbon emmissions.

Octopus Energy’s Export Tariffs: Get Paid for Your Solar

Octopus offers several export tariffs under the government’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). 

At a base level, SEG Octopus pays 4.1p per kWh for exported energy, which is a simple way to get paid for any surplus. However, Outgoing Fixed offers a higher, flat rate of 15p per kWh, providing predictable and generous earnings from every unit exported.

For those willing to accept price variation, Outgoing Agile links export prices to wholesale rates, which can spike during peak demand periods — meaning you could get well above the fixed rate at times.

There’s also Outgoing Fixed Lite (8p/kWh) for customers already on Octopus Go — another example of how pairing tariffs (e.g., cheap overnight import + fixed export) can maximise returns.

Advanced Tariffs for Solar with Battery Storage

Octopus offers advanced options for homes with solar energy storage batteries.

Octopus Flux uses time-of-use pricing, with low import prices overnight (typically 2am-5am), higher prices during peak demand (4pm-7pm), and an attractive export rate during peak times. This allows homeowners to charge batteries overnight and discharge/export during peak times when rates are highest.

For those wanting automation, Intelligent Octopus Flux uses smart controls to manage when your battery charges and discharges to match tariff pricing and grid needs. This is compatible with batteries like GivEnergy and Enphase.

DIY Solar: Octopus’ Outgoing Scheme

Interestingly, Octopus is one of the few providers allowing DIY solar panel installations to access export tariffs. Through Outgoing Octopus, even those without MCS certification can export energy — with options like Outgoing Agile or Outgoing Fixed. While an application fee (approx. £250) applies, this opens solar export to more people, although Viable Power’s MCS-certified installations offer a smoother route without such hurdles.

If you want to compare the average cost to install solar panels yourself, be aware that DIY setups can have hidden added costs and limitations. In this regard, Viable Power can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision on the cost of solar panel installation, battery storage and grid integration.

How Viable Power Helps You Choose and Set Up Octopus Tariffs

Navigating these complex tariffs is where Viable Power makes all the difference. As a certified Octopus Partner, we ensure that every solar panel and battery system we install is fully compatible with Octopus’ smart tariffs.

Our team will walk you through:

• Choosing the right Octopus tariff based on your solar setup and lifestyle.
• Having the correct smart meter with half-hourly reads, essential for most Octopus tariffs.
• Completing MCS certification and DNO notifications needed to qualify for export tariffs.
• Advising on battery programming to automatically charge and discharge at the most beneficial times.

Unlike generic installers, our partnership with Octopus means we stay updated on tariff changes, eligibility criteria, and tech compatibility — so you always get the best fit for your home.

Future-Proofing for Smart Energy Grids

Choosing Octopus tariffs also future-proofs your solar investment. As the UK moves toward smart grids and dynamic pricing, tariffs like Agile and Intelligent Flux will become more mainstream. Viable Power helps ensure your system — from panels to batteries to EV chargers — is ready for this next wave, including Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and advanced demand response features.

Ready to Optimise Your Solar with Octopus and Viable Power?

Combine cutting-edge tariffs, smart solar storage, and Viable Power’s expert consultancy to take full control of your home’s energy future so you can save money, generate income, and contribute to the UK’s renewable goals. Contact Viable Power today for a free solar and tariff consultation — and let’s get your home future-ready.