MCS - Microgeneration Certification Scheme
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) was designed to support the reduction of UK dependency on fossil fuels, being introduced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in 2008 as an enhanced development of the earlier 'Clear Skies' scheme of 2003. Unlike the earlier scheme, the MCS was designed as a standards based technical evaluation and certification framework for microgeneration product manufacturers and installer networks to operate, thereby enhancing consumer protection. In 2016 the UK Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) superseded DECC as the responsible department for energy related matters.
Installation of MCS certified product by MCS certified installers is a requirement for access to the UK Government's Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) financial incentive schemes which are designed to support and promote early adoption and uptake of small scale installations, particularly those in the domestic environment. This pre-requisite for access to FiT or RHI support is specifically designed to both maintain control over the level of overall scheme funding and to ensure that installations accessing that funding meet minimum standards.
MCS Certified Products
Currently, the MCS product certification scheme is limited to maximum electricity generating capacities of 50kW and heat generation/collection below a threshold of 45kW(thermal), encompassing the following renewable technologies -
Biomass boilers (<45 kW.t)
Combined Heat & Power (CHP) boilers (max electricity:50 kW + heating:45 kW.t)
Heat pumps (<45 kW.t) - Air & Ground: Wet systems (not Air to Air)
Hydroelectric microgeneration (<50 kW)
Solar PV (<50kWp)
Solar Thermal collectors (<45kW.t)
Wind Power (<50kW)
The MCS Website provides consumers with access to certified product lists and searches in the following format
Use the MCS site (image link above) to ensure that products which are of interest or products contained in a quotation are certified and therefore are eligible for FiT or RHI scheme support.
MCS Certified installers
The MCS Website offers a facility to search for approved installers operating in a particular geographical area as a 'quality assurance' contact tool for consumers.
As in every other customer/supplier situation, it is recommended that anyone interested in installing these technologies to first acquire a reasonable level of understanding prior to contacting potential suppliers, and of course have at least three quotations from different installers to compare.
Images (Screen Grabs): MCS - http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/
Use 'Related Posts' or site menus to find more information regarding renewable technologies
