Octopus Flux for Solar: Is It Worth It?
Is Octopus Flux worth it for solar owners?
Octopus Flux is a time-of-use tariff designed for solar + battery households. It pays 8–24p/kWh for electricity exported during peak hours (16:00–19:00) — 3–5x more than standard SEG rates (4–5p/kWh). It also charges a low overnight rate (~10p/kWh) for battery charging. With a solar + battery system, Flux can earn £200–£500/year more than a standard flat tariff. Without a battery, the benefit is smaller but still positive.
How Octopus Flux Works
Flux divides each day into three rate periods:
Import rates (what you pay for grid electricity): - Off-peak (02:00–05:00): ~10p/kWh — charge your battery cheaply - Standard (05:00–16:00 & 19:00–02:00): ~26p/kWh — normal rate - Peak (16:00–19:00): ~36p/kWh — expensive, avoid importing
Export rates (what you earn for exported electricity): - Off-peak (02:00–05:00): ~5p/kWh — standard export - Standard (05:00–16:00 & 19:00–02:00): ~12p/kWh — good export rate - Peak (16:00–19:00): ~24p/kWh — premium export rate
The strategy with solar + battery: 1. Morning–afternoon: Solar charges battery + powers home 2. 16:00–19:00 (peak): Battery exports to grid at 24p/kWh — earning premium income 3. 19:00–02:00: Home uses grid at standard rate 4. 02:00–05:00: Battery recharges from grid at ~10p/kWh 5. 05:00 onwards: Battery powers home until solar kicks in
The arbitrage: Buy at 10p, sell at 24p = 14p profit per kWh. On a 10kWh battery, that is £1.40/day = £511/year in pure tariff arbitrage.
Source: Octopus Energy Flux tariff rates March 2026.
How Much More Can You Earn?
Annual income comparison (4kW solar, 10kWh battery):
| Tariff | Export Income | Import Savings | Arbitrage | Total Annual Value | |--------|-------------|---------------|-----------|----------------------| | Standard flat + SEG 4.5p | £90 (SEG) | £490 (24.5p saved) | £0 | £580 | | Octopus Flux (no battery) | £150 (mixed export) | £470 (slightly less self-consumption value) | £0 | £620 | | Octopus Flux (with battery) | £250 (peak export) | £550 (high self-consumption) | £300 (arbitrage) | £1,100 |
Flux with battery adds: £520/year more than standard flat tariff + SEG.
Over 25 years: £13,000 additional value (minus battery replacement costs).
Flux transforms a battery from 'nice to have' into a serious earning asset. The tariff arbitrage alone can pay for the battery within 8–10 years.
Source: Octopus Flux rate calculations; battery cycling modelling.
Who Should Use Octopus Flux?
Flux is ideal for:
- Solar + battery owners — the full benefit requires a battery to shift import/export timing
- Households that can avoid 16:00–19:00 import — peak import rates (36p) are expensive if you cannot avoid them
- Tech-savvy users — Flux works best when you actively monitor and optimise (or use a smart inverter like GivEnergy that automates Flux scheduling)
- GivEnergy battery owners — GivEnergy inverters have built-in Octopus Flux mode that automates the daily charge/discharge cycle
- Anyone exporting meaningful solar surplus — even without a battery, Flux's daytime export rate (~12p) beats standard SEG (~4.5p)
Who Should NOT Use Flux?
- No battery and high evening consumption — the 36p peak rate (16:00–19:00) will cost MORE than a flat tariff if you import heavily during this window
- Very small solar system (2kW) — limited surplus means limited export income
- Households that cook electrically at 5–7pm — oven + hob during peak = expensive imports at 36p/kWh
- Anyone who cannot avoid peak imports — Flux penalises peak consumption as much as it rewards peak export
Flux vs Octopus Go for Solar
Octopus Go: - Super cheap overnight rate: 7.5p/kWh (00:30–05:30) - Standard rate rest of the day: ~24.5p/kWh - No premium export rate — standard SEG applies - Best for: EV owners who charge overnight + solar self-consumption during the day - No peak penalty
Octopus Flux: - Cheap overnight: ~10p/kWh (02:00–05:00) - Premium peak export: ~24p/kWh (16:00–19:00) - Expensive peak import: ~36p/kWh (16:00–19:00) - Best for: Solar + battery owners who can export during peak and avoid peak imports - Higher reward, higher risk
Which is better? - If you have solar + battery but no EV: Flux (export arbitrage is the main value) - If you have solar + EV but no battery: Go (cheap overnight EV charging + solar self-consumption) - If you have solar + battery + EV: Flux slightly edges Go (peak export + EV charges from battery/solar during day)
Source: Octopus Energy tariff comparison.
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