What happens if my solar export is limited?
An export limit caps how much electricity you may send back to the grid, and on constrained networks it can be set to zero. It does not stop a project. The system is designed around on-site self-consumption instead, with an export limitation device holding the inverters within the agreed limit. Because on-site electricity is worth more than export payments, most business cases change very little.
Last updated 18 September 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Who sets the limit | Your DNO, in the G99 connection offer |
|---|---|
| Common outcomes | Full export, capped export, or zero export |
| How it is enforced | Export limitation device curtailing inverters |
| Value of self-consumption | Typically 3–5× an export tariff |
| Mitigations | Right-sizing, storage, load shifting, EV charging |
| What to check in a proposal | Expected curtailed kWh, by month |
Why a limit usually matters less than people expect
Avoided import is worth the full delivered price of electricity, while export earns a wholesale-linked rate. A system sized to daytime base load exports little anyway, so a cap mainly bites on summer weekends and holidays. The honest test is how many kilowatt-hours the design expects to curtail and when — that number, not the headline limit, tells you the cost.
Designing around a capped or zero-export connection
Size the array to demand rather than to roof area, fit export limitation with monitoring so curtailment is visible, and move flexible load into daylight hours where operations allow. Battery storage or EV charging can absorb the midday peak, though both need to earn their own place in the numbers rather than being added to rescue the export position.
Related reading
FAQ
Can I still get paid for export with a limit in place?
Yes, for whatever you export within the agreed limit, under the Smart Export Guarantee or a commercial export agreement.
Can an export limit be increased later?
Sometimes, through a new DNO application. Where the local network is constrained it may require reinforcement works, which carry cost and lead time.
Request your free feasibility review
Share a few details and our team will send a no-obligation review of your site — indicative system size, annual generation, savings and payback. Prefer to explore numbers yourself first? Run the calculator or contact us directly.
- MCS & RECC accredited installer
- Response within one working day
- No cost, no obligation