MCS – The Essential Certificatio...
? MCS Certification: Ensures high standards & compliance for renewable energy technologies in the UK.
? Benefits: Provides trust for manufacturers, credibility for installers & peace of mind for consumers.
? Directory & Support: Maintains directories of certified installers & products, offering customer support.
? Further Protections: EPVS members offer additional validation for energy performance & installation savings.
If you’re considering installing renewable energy solutions in your home, you’ve likely come across the term “MCS.” But what exactly does it mean? The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an established program in the UK that supports and certifies small-scale renewable energy technologies, ensuring high standards and compliance.
What is MCS?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme was launched in 2007 to certify small-scale renewable energy installations and products. Originally established by the UK government to support the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), it was developed by BRE Global. In 2018, MCS became independent from the UK government and was transferred to the MCS Service Company Limited and the MCS Charitable Foundation.
Over the past 18 years, nearly 1.2 million homes in the UK have embraced renewable energy solutions, with MCS playing a pivotal role in maintaining and ensuring high standards for all these installations. Being MCS-certified signifies adherence to recognized industry standards and high-quality compliance.
What is MCS’ role?
MCS’ primary role is to establish and uphold standards for low-carbon products and installations that generate electricity and heat from renewable energy sources. This includes technologies such as solar panels (also called solar PV), solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass boilers, micro-CHP, small wind turbines, and battery storage.
The MCS scheme certifies products, installers, and their installations of renewable energy technology in residential and commercial applications. However, its remit is limited to small-scale renewables and does not cover large mass production applications like wind farms, solar farms, or community biomass projects.
The benefits of MCS
MCS offers numerous benefits to manufacturers, installers, and consumers in the UK:
- Manufacturers: MCS certification instils trust in their products, ensuring they meet industry standards and compliance levels, which is crucial for insurance requirements. It also makes consumers eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Scheme, which requires all installations up to 50kW to use MCS-certified products.
- Installers: Certification enhances credibility and demonstrates the ability to install renewable energy products to a high standard. It grants access to work requiring building compliance and often results in more favourable finance options for MCS-certified projects. Installers can factor in the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Scheme into customer savings, as both the installer and products must be MCS certified to qualify.
- Consumers: MCS certification provides peace of mind that the products and installers have been rigorously checked and certified against industry standards. It ensures eligibility for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Scheme, allowing consumers to earn extra income from exporting electricity to the National Grid. Additionally, it guarantees compliance with insurance requirements and Building Control regulations.
MCS maintains directories of certified installers and products, ensuring customers can verify certifications before proceeding with installations. The scheme also enforces a quality assurance system and requires members to adhere to a Consumer Code. MCS assists customers in finding installers, answering questions, and providing support if issues arise.
Further protections
For additional protection and reassurance, consumers can seek installers who are EPVS members. EPVS validates the energy performance of renewable energy installations and the calculations made by installers, ensuring the estimated savings and generation figures are trustworthy. This added layer of validation helps maintain high standards.
As a highly trusted and experienced installer, NXTGEN Energy values the importance of both the MCS and EPVS schemes and is proud to be a member of both schemes. We understand that customers appreciate this reassurance and take pride in being recognized for our commitment to high standards.
Understanding MCS
NXTGEN Energy are MCS Certified Solar PV & Battery Storage Installers
Remember not all Solar Panel Installers are MCS Certified! NXTGEN Energy Ltd. are proud to be both MCS Certified Solar PV (Panel) Installers and also MCS Certified Battery Storage Installers. We are 1 of only 10 Solar Installers in Essex who are certified on both Solar PV and Battery Storage. This means we can install your complete Solar PV System to the high quality, performance, and safety as required by MCS Certification in the UK. Have you checked your installer on mcscertified.com?
