If you are looking at installing renewable energy solutions in your home then you have probably seen MCS mentioned, but what is it? The Microgeneration Certification Scheme, or MCS is a scheme that supports and certifies small-scale renewable energy technologies in the UK.
What is MCS?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme was launched in 2007 to certify small-scale renewable energy installations and products. The scheme was originally established by the government to support the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), and it was developed by BRE Global. In 2018, MCS became independent from the government and was transferred to the MCS Service Company Limited and the MCS Charitable Foundation.
Since the formation of MCS 18 years ago, there have been almost 1.2 million homes with renewable energy solutions installed. MCS has been a part of those installations in ensuring that standards are met and maintained.
MCS is a mark of quality, and being a member of MCS or having your products certified by MCS means that they meet recognised industry standards and adhere to high quality and compliance standards.
What is MCS’ role?
MCS’ role is to create and maintain standards for low-carbon products and installations that are used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources, this includes solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass boilers, micro CHP, small wind turbines and battery storage.
They certify the products, installers and their installations of renewable energy technology in domestic and commercial applications. Their remit is small-scale renewables and doesn’t include mass production applications like wind farms, solar farms, or community biomass projects.
The benefits of MCS
There are many benefits of MCS for manufacturers, installers and consumers.
Manufacturers can benefit from having a product that installers and consumers can trust, as it is certified as meeting industry standards and compliance levels, meaning it meets insurance requirements. It also means that the consumer is eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) as this requires all installations up to and including 50kW in size to use MCS certified products.
Installers can benefit from MCS certification, which demonstrates their ability to install renewable energy products to a high standard. This certification not only enhances credibility but also grants access to work requiring building compliance. Additionally, finance options for renewable installations are often more favorable for MCS-certified projects. Being certified also allows installers to factor the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) into customer savings, as both the installer and products must be MCS certified to qualify.
For the consumer, it gives peace of mind that the products and installer have been checked and certified against industry standards. It is also an important part of the return on investment calculations to be able to claim the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) as this allows you to get an income from the electricity you export to the grid. It also ensures that your installation will comply with insurance requirements and Building Control regulations.
MCS provides installer and product directories so customers can check that the company and products are certified before going ahead with an installation. They also provide a quality assurance scheme, and its members are required to follow a Consumer Code which MCS works closely with and they will work with customers to identify, expose and remove anyone that breaches the code. MCS also offer customer support in finding an installer, answering questions and assisting if something goes wrong.
Further protections
If you want further protection or reassurance about your installer you can seek out one that is an EPVS member as this validates the energy performance of the renewable energy installation and the calculations that the installer has made. It means that the estimated savings and generation figures are trustworthy as the installer has been checked for their calculation processes and is audited to ensure that they maintain this standard. You can learn more about EPVS in our blog.
As a trusted and experienced installer, SolarTherm UK understands the importance of both the MCS and EPVS schemes and is proud to be a member of both. We know that customers value this reassurance and we appreciate being recognised for the high standards we deliver every day.
