Introducing Solar Sharing

Gift the solar you don't need to someone who does

Octopus solar customers can now donate some of their home-grown power to struggling families through our Octopus Assist fund or National Energy Action.

What is Solar Sharing?

Sometimes, rooftop solar panels soak up so much sunlight that you end up with more power than you need. When this happens, you can sell the excess energy back to the grid (through export tariffs like Outgoing Octopus).

Thanks to the clever thinking of some generous customers like Stuart, we've come up with a way to give Octopus customers the option to gift the money to others more in need.

To gift your surplus solar, you need to:

Be an Octopus customer
Have home PV solar panels and a smart meter
Be on one of our smart solar tariffs.

How to sign up

Create an account in our R&D Labs service and follow the instructions to pair it with your existing Octopus account.
Within the R&D Labs main menu, select Products, then Solar Sharing.
Click through to accept the terms & conditions and choose your charity.
That’s it, all done. Log on at any time to see the impact you're making!

Where does the money go?

Our Octopus Assist Fund helps customers struggling with their bills to keep warm without worrying. There's a range of support available from direct bill grants, free electric blankets (that help you save up to 30% on winter heating bills), standing charge waivers and more.

National Energy Action works across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, campaigning for the needs of fuel-poor households and giving advice and support. If you live in Scotland, the value of your excess solar will be donated to their sister charity, Energy Action Scotland.

Creating a fairer energy system for all

With smart home tech like solar panels and batteries at our disposal, customers can now be more flexible in the way they use energy. Storing what they need, using it at cheaper times, selling it back to the grid, and now – sharing it with people who might be struggling. This is another way to ensure green energy benefits all.

Other ways we support customers

To boost the rollout of home solar and help more people facing fuel poverty, we're also offering eligible customers free solar and battery installations as part of the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Last year, we reached 161 homes across the UK, and we hope to make it 400 this year. Currently, the initiative is only available to customers who meet specific criteria, but we hope to open it up to more people in the future.

Frequently asked questions:

Do I need a special meter to join Solar Sharing?

No, you can gift your excess solar using the existing smart meter you use for solar exports. If you haven't got a smart meter, you can register for one here.

How does Solar Sharing work?

Usually, as an export customer, we pay you for any excess electricity you don't use or that you store in a battery by selling it back to the grid. With Solar Sharing, we take the amount you would have received for the extra energy and give it to the charity you selected—so it benefits others who might be more in need.

Aside from opting in and signing up, you don't need to do anything to make the donation. We'll donate your excess solar automatically each month, unless you tell us otherwise.

How do I know if I'm eligible?

To gift your surplus solar, you need to:

Be an Octopus customer
Have home PV solar panels and a smart meter
Be on one of our smart export tariffs.

Unfortunately you won't be able to gift solar if you're on Flux, Intelligent Octopus Flux or any of the following tariffs: Zero Bills, Powerloop, Tesla or Feed-in-Tariff.

See our terms and conditions for more information.

I live in Scotland, can I donate to Energy Action Scotland?

Yes, Energy Action Scotland (EAS) is the sister charity of National Energy Action. If your postcode is based in Scotland, the money from the excess solar you donate will automatically go to Energy Action Scotland without you having to tell us.

Will I be able to see how much I have donated?

Yes. Every month we’ll send you an email that says how much you have donated. You’ll also be able to see this on your R&D Labs dashboard, along with the amount that all solar users have donated collectively.

What happens if I decide I don’t want to donate any more?

You cancel your participation on the R&D platform any time. When you press cancel, we'll stop counting your exported energy as a donation and go back to paying you according to the terms of your previous export tariff. At the end of the month, any donations made before you left will be sent to your chosen cause.

When do the charities receive my donation?

We'll donate the value of your excess solar to Octo Assist Fund or National Energy Action on a monthly basis. You don't need to do anything your side, we'll take care of everything, so sit back and keep your fingers crossed for sun!

What happens if my smart meter doesn’t send readings?

Unfortunately we can only donate exported solar that's been recorded. Check out our smart meter FAQs if you think there might be a problem with your connection.

What is the R&D lab?

At Octopus, we're constantly trying new and exciting things. When we decide to trial a new product or project with a small number of customers, we run it from our R&D lab. This is basically our sister-site. To join Solar Sharing, you'll need to register on the website. It's super easy to do, just follow this steps:

Create an account in our R&D Labs service and follow the instructions to pair with your existing Octopus account.
Within the R&D Labs main menu, select Products then Solar Sharing.
Click through to accept the terms & conditions and choose your charity.
That’s it, all done. Log on at any time to see the impact you're making!

Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!