GivEnergy Events Programme (GivBack) — Everything You Need to Know
The GivEnergy Events Programme (GivBack) pays battery owners to allow automated battery control during grid stress events between 4 PM and 8 PM. This guide covers eligibility, how events work, the all-or-nothing opt-in, payment timelines, and what actually happens to your battery during an event.
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What are GivEnergy Events?
GivEnergy Events are a demand response programme — also called GivBack — that pays battery owners for allowing GivEnergy to automatically manage their batteries during periods of grid stress. This is part of a wider effort to balance the UK electricity grid as more renewable energy comes online.
GivEnergy Events take place between 4 PM and 8 PM on weekdays. This is the peak grid demand period — when household electricity consumption is highest and grid operators need flexible assets to balance supply and demand. Batteries are ideal for this because they can respond immediately.
During a GivEnergy Event, your battery's charge and discharge behaviour is automatically managed by GivEnergy. Typically, this means the battery will discharge to cover household load (reducing your grid import demand) during the event window. You don't need to do anything — it happens automatically.
In exchange for making your battery available for demand response, GivEnergy pay you monthly. The payment amount depends on your battery's contribution during each event. Payments are made with a 3-month delay (January events paid in April, for example).
GivEnergy notify participants before a scheduled event via the GivBack app. You'll know an event is coming — you just don't have the option to skip individual ones if you're opted in.
Who can join the GivEnergy Events Programme?
There are three requirements to join GivBack. All three must be met — check these before signing up.
Compatible GivEnergy system
You need a compatible GivEnergy inverter and battery system. Most GivEnergy hybrid inverters and battery combinations qualify. Check the GivBack app or GivEnergy's website for a current list of compatible hardware.
Smart meter installed
A smart meter must be installed at your property. Standard analogue or digital meters are not eligible. Smart meters allow GivEnergy and the grid operator to accurately measure your demand response contribution during events.
England, Wales, or Scotland
The GivEnergy Events Programme is available to properties in England, Wales, and Scotland. It is not currently available in Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands.
Signing up for GivEnergy Events
The sign-up process is managed through the separate GivBack app — not the main GivEnergy monitoring app. This is an important distinction that trips up many users.
The GivBack programme uses a separate dedicated app called GivBack. It is not the same as the main GivEnergy monitoring app. Search for "GivBack" in the App Store or Google Play. Do not try to sign up through the main GivEnergy portal or app — it won't be there.
Create an account in the GivBack app and link it to your GivEnergy system. You'll need your GivEnergy portal login or inverter serial number to connect the accounts. Your smart meter details will also be verified at this stage.
Use the GivBack app to opt in to the Events Programme. Participation is all-or-nothing — when you opt in, you agree to participate in all qualifying events. You cannot choose to skip individual events while remaining enrolled. You can opt out of the programme entirely at any time.
What happens to your battery during a GivEnergy Event
Understanding what GivEnergy does to your battery during an event helps you plan your energy usage and avoid surprises when you check your monitoring data.
Battery discharge during the event window
During a GivEnergy Event, your battery will typically be commanded to discharge to cover household load between 4 PM and 8 PM. This reduces your grid import during the peak period, which is exactly what the demand response programme is trying to achieve.
For you as a household, this means your battery may be more depleted than usual going into the evening. If you were planning to use battery power overnight for cheap-rate avoidance, ensure your overnight charge schedule accounts for the lower starting SoC.
Automatic control overrides your settings
During an event, GivEnergy's automated system takes control of your battery's charge/discharge behaviour. Your regular portal schedule and system mode settings are temporarily overridden for the duration of the event. Your settings are restored automatically when the event ends.
Notification before events
You receive a notification via the GivBack app before a scheduled event. This gives you time to plan around the event — for example, pre-charging appliances before 4 PM or adjusting your household usage during the event window. Events are typically announced the day before or morning of the event.
GivEnergy Events payments — how and when you get paid
GivBack payments are made monthly, but with a significant delay. Understanding this avoids confusion when you don't see payment arrive the month after an event.
The 3-month payment delay
GivBack payments are made monthly but with a 3-month delay. This delay exists because GivEnergy and their grid partners need time to verify, calculate, and process the demand response data for each event before payments can be issued.
Events in February → Paid in May
Events in October → Paid in January
How payments are calculated
Payments are based on your battery's contribution during each event — how much demand it helped reduce during the 4–8 PM window, measured through your smart meter. A larger battery contributing more demand reduction will receive higher payments than a smaller system or one with low available charge at the time of the event.
Payment details and event history are visible in the GivBack app. Refer to GivEnergy's GivBack documentation for the current payment rate structure — rates can change between programme seasons.
If you no longer want to participate in the Events Programme, you can opt out entirely via the GivBack app. Once opted out, your battery will no longer be controlled during events and you will stop earning event payments. Remember: you cannot selectively skip individual events — it's all-in or all-out.
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GivEnergy Events questions
GivEnergy Events (GivBack) is a demand response programme that pays battery owners to allow GivEnergy to automatically control their batteries during grid stress events between 4 PM and 8 PM. During events, your battery discharges to cover household load, reducing grid demand at the peak period. You receive monthly payments with a 3-month delay for participating.
Yes. A smart meter is a mandatory requirement for the GivEnergy Events Programme. Smart meters allow accurate measurement of your demand response contribution during events. If you don't have a smart meter, you will need to request one from your energy supplier before you can participate.
No. The GivEnergy Events Programme uses an all-or-nothing model. When you opt in, you agree to participate in all qualifying events. You cannot skip individual events while remaining enrolled. You can opt out of the programme entirely at any time via the GivBack app — after opting out, your battery will no longer be controlled during events and you will stop earning payments.
GivBack payments are made monthly but with a 3-month delay. Events in January are paid in April, February events in May, and so on. This delay is due to the time required to verify and process demand response data. Payments and event history are visible in the GivBack app.
No. GivBack is a separate app from the main GivEnergy monitoring app. You need to download GivBack specifically to sign up for and manage your Events participation. The main GivEnergy app and the givenergy.cloud portal are for monitoring and configuration — the Events Programme and payment management are handled exclusively through the GivBack app.
Questions about Events and your system?
If your battery behaved unexpectedly during an event, you want to check your system is correctly configured for Events, or you have questions about your GivBack sign-up — get in touch and we'll help.