The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent certification scheme that certifies microgeneration (renewable energy) products and installers. This certification is a sign of quality, giving consumers peace of mind and assurance and is required for anyone looking to access financial incentives for these technologies, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme or the Smart Export Guarantee. As an installer looking to install renewable technologies, it is essential that you achieve MCS certification to allow your customers to benefit from these financial incentives.
Easy MCS can help you achieve and maintain this qualification.
What does the scheme do?
MCS requires installers and product manufacturers to adhere to a certain level of quality, to ensure that the installation of renewable technologies recognised under MCS have been quoted, designed, and fitted to the highest possible standard.
Granting MCS certification to installers is managed by approved Certification Bodies, who will assess documentation and installations to ensure that companies who are applying for MCS certification are adhering to those requirements, are appropriately qualified, and are therefore demonstrating the quality standards required under MCS.
Installer Standards
MCS 001-01 and MCS 001-02 are the general MCS requirements that any installation company must incorporate into their business. These standards form the basis of the day-to-day obligations for any company operating under MCS and include areas such as:
- Complaint management
- Stock control
- Data and change management
- Record keeping
- Internal review and quality control
- Staff training and qualifications
- Subcontracting
- Non conforming products and processes
Your Easy MCS subscription addresses all of the areas of MCS 001-01 and MCS 001-02 and gives you the tools you need to implement these requirements into your business for any MCS activities.
Technology Standards
Alongside the Installer standards, MCS also has specific standards for each technology under their remit. These are:
- MIS 3001 – Solar Thermal
- MIS 3002 – Solar PV
- MIS 3003 – Micro Wind
- MIS 3004 – Biomass
- MIS 3005 – Heat Pumps (ground source and air source)
- MIS 3007 – Micro CHP (heat-led and electricity-led)
- MIS 3012 – Battery Storage
These standards are technology specific and cover areas such as:
- Design
- Handover
- Set-to-work
- Qualification requirements
- Commissioning
Alongside these standards MCS also include supplementary documents that are required, such as:
- Codes of Practice
- Metering requirements
- Design guides
- Guidance documents
- BS EN approved documents
- Noise calculations
Your Easy MCS subscription meets all the requirements for each technology you choose, and includes access or links to purchase any supplementary documents as are requested by MCS, all supported by our award-winning consultancy service and the GreenPro Installer Toolkit.
Consumer Code
MCS installers are also required to be a member of a recognised Consumer Code when dealing with any domestic customer under the MCS scheme. The recognised Consumer Codes are:
- RECC
- HIES
The Consumer Codes require certain standards to be maintained when dealing with domestic customers and will require appropriate documentation to demonstrate this. This includes:
- Contracts
- Quotations
- Selling practices
- Cancellations
- Dealing with vulnerable persons
- Explaining and demonstrating estimates of performance of the proposed system.
Your Easy MCS subscription meets the requirements of your chosen Consumer Code and our Consultants are on hand to ensure that you understand these requirements and are adhering to them day to day.
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Our team of experts can help you with any aspect of your application
Mon – Fri : 9am – 5pm / 0161 768 5807
By achieving certification you are demonstrating to your customers that you operate to the high standards and regulations
required by MCS. The MCS ‘Certification Mark’ is recognised throughout the industry as the sign of a high quality installer offering high quality products.
Being an MCS certified installer allows you to offer in-demand financial incentives such as:
- The Smart Export Guarantee
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- Home Energy Scotland
The Smart Export Guarantee
What renewable energy systems are eligible?
- Solar PV
- Wind
- Micro combined heat and power (CHP)
- Hydro
- Anaerobic digestion (AD)
The SEG is a financial incentive that replaced the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), paying a set amount per kWh of energy exported back to the grid from a renewable source. Each individual energy provider sets their own rate for the SEG, which can range from 1p/kWh to up to 5.6p/kWh, with some up to even 11p/kWh for those who have specific battery storage.
Energy companies with more than 150,000 customers have had to offer the SEG since 2020 if their customers request it, but it is not automatic – customers must apply for it when they have renewable measures installed on their property.
To find out more about how you can provide access to the SEG for your customers, contact us on 0161 768 5807 or email [email protected]
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme was announced in Autumn 2021 as a replacement to the domestic RHI. Available from the 23rd May 2022, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is an upfront voucher for renewable heat.
Key aspects of the BUS
- The BUS is a voucher scheme for £7.5k for ASHP and biomass installations, or £6k for GSHP
- It covers England and Wales
- Administered by Ofgem
- An installer-led voucher scheme, you as the installer would apply for the voucher on your customer’s behalf
- The installation would go ahead if your application is successful, with the grant payment reimbursed to the installer once all checks are complete
- Voucher validity periods are 3 months for ASHP and biomass, 6 months for GSHP
- No metering requirements or minimum occupancy
- Available for private landlords, self-build properties, domestic and non domestic properties
- Social landlords are not eligible
The BUS has been introduced to help homeowners overcome the significant upfront costs for renewable heat, by granting an upfront payment. This is to help the uptake of low carbon heat in England and Wales, with 30,000 vouchers being made available annually until 2028.
Only MCS approved installers fitting MCS products can apply for a BUS voucher for their customers, which is why it’s so important for any companies looking to install renewable heat to first gain MCS certification. We can help – contact us to get started on 0161 768 5807 or by filling in our online form.
