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Account guide · GivLink & GivBack VPP

GivLink & GivBack — earn money from your GivEnergy battery by supporting the grid

GivBack is GivEnergy's virtual power plant (VPP) programme. It automatically exports your battery's stored energy during national grid peaks — and pays you monthly for doing it. Here's everything you need to know before joining.
  • Fully automated — no action needed during events
  • Monthly cash payments to your bank
  • Schedule reverts automatically after each event
GivBack at a glance
How to sign up
5.0
13 Trustpilot reviews
Trustpilot Google

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot
Overview

What is GivLink / GivBack?

GivBack — accessed through the GivLink programme — is GivEnergy's virtual power plant (VPP) scheme. It connects thousands of home GivEnergy batteries into a coordinated network that can supply stored energy to the National Grid on demand.

The scheme is funded and operated in partnership with the National Energy System Operator (NESO). When the grid is under strain — typically during evening peaks or unexpected supply shortfalls — NESO issues a dispatch signal. GivBack receives this signal and automatically triggers participating batteries to export energy, stabilising grid frequency and reducing the need for fossil-fuel peaker plants to fire up.

For homeowners, it is entirely hands-off. Your battery exports automatically, your schedule resets afterwards, and you receive a monthly payment for your contribution.

🔋
For your battery

Your battery discharges during grid events. Your normal schedule is automatically restored immediately afterwards. Solar and household demand are prioritised first — only spare capacity is used for grid services.

For the grid

Home batteries provide distributed, fast-response grid balancing. The aggregated capacity of thousands of GivEnergy batteries helps NESO maintain grid stability without spinning up costly gas peaker plants.

💰
For your pocket

You earn monthly payments for every grid event your battery participates in. Payments begin three months after your first event and are deposited directly into your bank account.

🌱
For the planet

Distributed battery networks reduce the need for fossil-fuel generation during peak demand. Every event your battery participates in contributes to lower grid carbon intensity.

☀️
If you have solar

Your battery still charges from solar generation as normal. During a grid event, GivBack only uses spare battery capacity beyond what your household solar requires. Solar self-consumption is always preserved.

📋
Existing payments preserved

GivBack does not affect Feed-in Tariff (FiT) or Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments. All existing payments continue unchanged. GivBack earnings are paid in addition to them.

Step 1

Eligibility — who can join?

Before downloading the GivBack app, confirm you meet all three requirements below. The sign-up process will fail at the address or meter verification stage if any are not met.

GivEnergy battery installed

You need a GivEnergy battery at your home address — not a commercial or third-party managed site. The battery must be visible in your GivEnergy app and reporting data.

Working smart meter

A functioning smart meter is required by NESO to verify your grid contribution. If you don't have one, contact your energy supplier to request an upgrade before signing up.

England, Wales or Scotland

Eligibility is limited to mainland UK. Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, and other Crown dependencies are excluded. International addresses are not eligible at this time.

!
You are not eligible if…
Your battery is currently managed by another automated service — for example, Intelligent Octopus Flux
You are already participating in a different flexibility programme that conflicts with GivBack's control signals
Your battery is installed at a commercial address or is not registered to your personal GivEnergy account

If you are on Octopus Go or Agile but manage your own schedule, you are eligible — Octopus runs a separate Grid Services scheme for Intelligent Octopus users. See our tariff optimisation guide for how to choose the right combination.

Step 2

How to sign up for GivBack

Sign-up is done entirely through the GivBack app. The process takes around 10 minutes if your address and meter are recognised automatically.

1
Download the GivBack app

Search for "GivBack" on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). This is a separate app from the main GivEnergy app.

2
Sign in with your GivEnergy account

Use the same email address and password as your main GivEnergy portal account at givenergy.cloud. If you don't have a portal account, set one up first — see our portal guide.

3
Enter your address

Type your address exactly as it appears on your energy bill — including punctuation, spacing, and any flat or building number formatting. The app uses a third-party energy database to match your meter.

If your address isn't found

Try registering anyway — if it fails, GivEnergy will contact you by email once matching has improved. Alternatively, email givback@givenergy.co.uk with your full address, MPAN (from your electricity bill), and a screenshot of the error.

4
Authorise battery control and smart meter connection

You will be asked to grant GivBack OAuth access to your inverter, and to connect your smart meter account. Both are required: inverter access so GivBack can dispatch your battery during events, and smart meter access so NESO can verify your grid contribution. All access is secure and limited to authorised events.

5
Declare your tariff type

You will be asked whether you have a time-of-use tariff with a cheap overnight period. This allows GivBack's algorithm to charge your battery during cheap hours even on non-event days. See our tariff optimisation guide to confirm which category your tariff falls into.

Understanding events

Grid service events explained

Grid service events are the mechanism through which your battery earns money. Here's exactly what happens and what to expect.

📡
What triggers an event?

Events are triggered by NESO when national electricity supply and demand need balancing — during peaks, unexpected generation shortfalls, or planned maintenance windows. Frequency varies by season and grid conditions.

🕐
When do events happen?

Events can technically happen at any time of day, but they are most likely between 4pm and 8pm — the period of highest national electricity demand. You'll receive a notification via the GivBack app or portal (if enabled) when your battery is dispatched.

🤖
Is anything required from me?

Nothing. Participation is fully automated. If your battery can discharge during an event, it will be scheduled to do so without any input from you. You are either opted in fully or opted out — you cannot skip individual events.

📊
After each event

After each grid event you will receive a summary of your participation and estimated earnings via the app. Your battery's normal charge schedule resumes immediately. No post-event action is needed.

🔋
What if my battery is low?

If your battery does not have sufficient charge to participate in a given event, it will simply not be dispatched for that event. Your system will not be drained below a safe threshold. Consistent participation depends on keeping your battery charged — another reason to set up a good charge schedule.

🌞
Solar is always prioritised

If you have solar panels, your battery will still charge from solar generation to power your home. GivBack only uses spare battery capacity beyond what your household solar requires. Grid events do not override solar self-consumption.

Other flexibility programmes

By participating in GivBack, you agree not to participate in other flexibility programmes offered by different providers at the same time. This prevents conflicting control signals between systems. Octopus runs its own separate Grid Services scheme — if you are on Intelligent Octopus, use Octopus's programme rather than GivBack.

In future GivBack releases, Octopus customers will be able to sign up for carbon-credit rewards alongside their existing Octopus arrangement — check the GivEnergy portal for updates.

Your setup

What GivBack does to your charge schedule

One of the most common concerns before joining GivBack is "will it mess up my charge schedule?" Here's exactly how it interacts with your existing configuration.

On event days
GivBack temporarily adjusts your battery's charging and discharging pattern for that day
If you have a cheap overnight rate, GivBack still aims to charge during those hours so you keep your tariff savings
Your normal schedule resumes immediately after the event ends
On non-event days
Your battery follows its completely normal charge and discharge schedule
GivBack is dormant — no control signals are issued
If you are on a TOU tariff, GivBack optimises overnight charging to maximise savings
!
Smart tariffs that auto-control your battery

GivEnergy does not recommend running GivBack alongside intelligent or smart tariffs that automatically control your battery (such as Intelligent Octopus Flux). Both systems issue automated control signals — running them together may cause conflicts or scheduling errors that result in unexpected battery behaviour.

Standard TOU tariffs like Octopus Go, Agile, and Economy 7 are fine — you manage your own schedule on these, and GivBack works alongside them. If you're seeing your settings changing unexpectedly, check whether a third-party service still has API control of your inverter.

Can I still manually change my schedule?

Yes. You can always update your charge schedule directly in the GivEnergy app between events. GivBack only takes temporary control on event days. Your manual changes will be preserved and restored after each event. See our charge schedule guide and energy management setup guide for how to configure your schedule correctly.

Earnings

How GivBack payments work

Payments are straightforward — monthly bank transfers, no invoicing needed, no changes to your energy tariff required.

📅
When payments start

Payments begin three months after your first grid event. GivEnergy will notify you when it's time to provide your bank details via the app.

🏦
How you're paid

Monthly payments are deposited directly into your bank account. You'll receive a summary of each grid event you participated in, including an estimate of your earnings for that event.

📄
Existing export payments

GivBack earnings are in addition to your existing Smart Export Guarantee and Feed-in Tariff payments. These are not affected. You also do not need to change your energy supplier or tariff.

Is GivBack a permanent programme?

Yes — GivBack is described as a permanent scheme. You can join at any time once you meet the eligibility requirements, and there is no minimum participation period. You can opt out at any time if your circumstances change.

Leaving the programme

How to opt out of GivBack

You can opt out of GivBack at any time. Once opted out, your battery will no longer be controlled for grid events. Your normal schedule returns to full manual control.

01 By email

Send an email to the GivBack support address with the subject line "Opt Out". Include your name and full address.

givback@givenergy.co.uk
Subject: Opt Out
02 Via the portal

Log in to the GivEnergy portal at givenergy.cloud and revoke the GivBack OAuth token under your account settings.

See our portal guide if you need help navigating account settings.

If your settings have been changing unexpectedly and you believe GivBack is still controlling your inverter after opting out, check your GivEnergy portal account settings to confirm the OAuth token has been fully revoked. If the issue persists, contact GivEnergy support directly.

FAQ

GivLink & GivBack — common questions

GivLink (also called GivBack) is GivEnergy's virtual power plant (VPP) programme. It connects GivEnergy home batteries into a coordinated network that exports stored energy to the National Grid during peak demand periods. The scheme is funded by NESO. When a grid event is triggered, GivBack automatically dispatches participating batteries to export energy. In return, owners receive monthly cash payments. Participation is fully automated — you never need to do anything manually during an event.
No. GivBack does not affect your electricity tariff, Smart Export Guarantee payments, or Feed-in Tariff payments. All existing payments continue at the same rates. GivBack earnings are paid in addition. The only restriction is that you should not run GivBack alongside another automated battery-control service like Intelligent Octopus Flux, as conflicting control signals can cause scheduling errors.
On event days, GivBack automatically adjusts your battery's charging and discharging pattern for that day only. If you have a cheap overnight tariff rate, GivBack will still aim to charge during those hours so you keep your tariff savings. Immediately after the event, your normal schedule is restored automatically. You can still make manual changes to your schedule between events via the GivEnergy app.
You can opt out in two ways. By email: send a message to givback@givenergy.co.uk with the subject line "Opt Out", including your name and address. Via the portal: log in to givenergy.cloud and revoke the GivBack OAuth token under account settings. Once opted out, your system will no longer be controlled or included in future grid events.
Yes — Octopus Go and Agile are standard TOU tariffs where you control your own schedule. GivBack is compatible with these, and can optimise your overnight charging around cheap rate windows. However, Intelligent Octopus Flux automatically controls your battery and conflicts with GivBack's control signals — these two should not be combined. See our tariff optimisation guide for full details on which tariffs work best with GivBack.
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GivBack questions or battery behaving unexpectedly?

Whether you're trying to maximise GivBack earnings, set up the right tariff combination, or troubleshoot unexpected battery behaviour, a remote diagnostic identifies the exact issue and the fix. From £75.

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