What is the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)?

MCS certification is a nationally recognised quality and safety scheme for small-scale renewable energy technologies. This includes solar PV, heat pumps, biomass heating systems, wind turbines, and solar thermal panels.

MCS certifies low-carbon products and installations for generating electricity and heat from renewable sources. As a mark of quality, MCS membership signifies compliance with recognized industry standards, ensuring quality, competence, and adherence to regulations.

The MCS was certified by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was dissolved in 2023 and split into three new departments: the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Benefits of MCS Accreditation for Supply & Installation

• Signifies product quality: MCS accredited technology has been tested to ensure it meets the necessary quality and safety standards. Installing MCS certified technology ensures a level of efficiency, reliability, and safety. 
• Proof of competence: Having your technology installed by an MCS accredited company ensures that the installation meets high industry standards for quality, safety, and performance, providing confidence in both the process and the long-term reliability of the system.
• Peace of mind: MCS certification guarantees that both your solar panels and their installation meet the highest standards. This means that you will be able to get the most out of your solar panels for a long time to come.
• Consumer protection: MCS offer consumer protection which will protect you in the event that the information you’ve been given about the scheme or the renewable technology is misleading, the generation system is underperforming or the information in the contract and the actual service provided don’t match up. If you have not happy with your MCS product or installation, MCS is committed to resolving the problem fairly and impartially.
• Eligibility for financial incentive schemes: Your solar panels and their installation must be MCS accredited to be eligible for financial schemes such as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). These financial schemes will help you to earn a quicker return on your investment in solar.

Financial Incentive Schemes

Smart Export Guarantee

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is an obligation set by the government for licensed electricity suppliers to offer a tariff and make payment to small-scale low-carbon generators for any renewable electricity they have generated and exported to the National Grid. It replaces the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, which pays many solar panel owners for the electricity they generate at home.

Once your MCS solar panels are installed, you can earn money for the energy generated that you’re not using yourself through the SEG. Through the scheme, energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers will pay a set amount for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by your solar panels. Energy suppliers set their own rates, as long as it’s more than zero so it’s definitely worth comparing them. Currently, you can get between 2-5.6p per kWh.

All energy providers in the UK are obligated to offer a Smart Export Guarantee tariff to their UK customers. 

In order to be paid for your excess electricity you have to sign up to a SEG tariff with a company. If you don’t do this, you will not be paid for your electricity and will export any you don’t use to the grid for free.

Eligibility Criteria for SEG

If you install solar panels (PV), a wind turbine, or mCHP system, you should be able to sign up to a SEG tariff with your energy provider. There are, however, certain criteria that you’ll need to meet, including the following:

• Your installation must be 5MW capacity or less (50kW for micro-CHP).
• Your installation must be MCS-certified.
• You’ll need a smart meter or a meter that can provide half-hourly readings for electricity export.

Smart Meters give both you and your energy provider accurate and regular updates on how much electricity and gas you use. They measure your energy use in the same way that traditional gas and electricity meters do, the main difference being that smart meters automatically send this information over wireless networks to your supplier.

Electricity smart meters are connected to the mains and monitor how much power you're using in real time. This results in more accurate bills for you and remove the costs of meter readings, which are currently added to your bills.

You should be able to save money by being more efficient with energy used at home. However, smart meters will only save you money if you use and act on the information provided by your in-home display to cut your consumption. 

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

Provides grants to help with the upfront costs of installing low-carbon heating systems, such as air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and biomass boilers. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grants are up to £7,500 for ASHP and GSHP systems. 

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)

Some MCS-accredited installers work with energy suppliers under the ECO scheme, which provides grants for energy efficiency improvements in homes, such as insulation or heating systems, depending on household eligibility.

VAT Reduction for Energy-Saving Materials (ESM)

MCS-certified installations of renewable energy technologies (like solar panels, heat pumps, or wind turbines) are eligible for a reduced VAT rate of 0% on energy-saving technology.

Green Home Finance Initiatives

Many lenders offer green mortgages or home improvement loans with favorable terms for energy-efficient upgrades like MCS-accredited installations.

Why do we need the MCS?

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) plays an important role in supporting UK customers who are looking to install renewable technologies, such as solar panels, heat pumps, and wind turbines. MCS certification ensures that both the products and the installation companies meet high industry standards, offering customers confidence in the quality, safety, and performance of their renewable energy systems.

By choosing an MCS-accredited installer, customers can access various financial incentives, including the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which pays for excess electricity exported back to the grid, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), offering grants for low-carbon heating systems. These incentives are designed to break initial cost barriers and improve payback periods, making renewable technology more accessible to UK residents. 

MCS also plays a key role in consumer protection, providing a strong framework for recourse if issues arise. It ensures that all installations comply with the latest regulations and are delivered by tried and tested professionals. The scheme is essential for providing customers with confidence by holding both manufacturing companies and installation companies to account.