Solar Net Metering & Save on Self-Use, Earn on Export

Net metering values solar in two ways. The units you use yourself avoid buying power from the grid, saving at your import tariff. The surplus you do not use is exported to the grid and earns at the export tariff. Your monthly benefit is the self-use savings plus the export earnings. This tool estimates generation, splits it into self-use and export, and totals the saving.

The import tariff is what you pay the utility for each unit you draw from the grid; self-consumed solar avoids this, so it is the value of every unit you use yourself. The export tariff is what the utility pays (or credits) you for each surplus unit you push back. Import tariffs are usually higher, which is why using your own solar is worth more than exporting it.

Generation depends on the system size in kilowatts and how many effective sun-hours your site gets, adjusted for losses. A rough rule is system size × peak sun-hours × days × a performance factor. Enter your system size and local generation assumption and the tool estimates the monthly units, then splits them between self-use and export.

Because the import tariff you avoid is typically higher than the export tariff you are paid. Every unit you consume on site saves the full retail price of grid power, while exported units usually earn a lower wholesale-style rate. So the more of your generation you can use during daylight — running pumps, cold storage or processing — the greater your savings.

Self-use (or self-consumption) is the share of solar generation you consume on site rather than export — running irrigation pumps, lighting, fans, cold rooms or equipment while the sun is up. The tool lets you set a self-use share or load, values it at the import tariff, and treats the remainder as export valued at the export tariff.

This tool models a grid-connected net-metering setup without batteries — surplus is exported and valued at the export tariff. Storage would shift more generation into self-use (at the higher import tariff) instead of export, raising savings. You can approximate that by increasing the self-use share to reflect how much a battery would let you keep.

Shift more load into daylight hours so a larger share of generation is self-used at the higher import tariff, size the system to your daytime demand, and keep panels clean and well-oriented to lift generation. Use the tool to test how changing self-use share, system size or tariffs moves your monthly saving.

No — rules differ by country and utility. Some allow full net metering with credits rolled over, others use net billing with a separate, lower export rate, and caps on system size or export apply in places. This tool uses your own import and export tariffs, so it works regardless of the local scheme name; just enter the rates that apply to you.

Yes — the logic (self-use saved at the import tariff plus export earned at the export tariff) is universal. Choose your currency and enter your local system size, generation, tariffs and self-use share. The terms net metering, import and export tariff are standard in solar policy worldwide.

No — it's a planning estimate. Actual savings depend on real generation, your consumption pattern, the precise tariffs and any fixed charges or caps in your scheme. Use this tool to size a system and gauge the monthly benefit, then confirm with your installer and utility before investing.