MCS consultation opens
5th June 2023
UK: A six-week public review has been opened on proposals to reform the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
A new, simpler scheme has been proposed which, the MCS says, will provide consistently high-quality outcomes for consumers and improve accessibility for contractors.
With the enormous growth potential in the UK’s small-scale renewables market, the MCS, which creates and maintain standards relating to low-carbon products, installers and installations, will play a key role in ensuring consumers have the confidence to invest in small-scale renewable technology for their homes and businesses.
This consultation details proposals to make changes to MCS in response to an assessment of current scheme operations and research conducted over the last 18 months. The development of these proposals are said to have benefited from input from a range of stakeholders, including contractors, trade associations, certification bodies and government departments.
MCS says the proposals outlined build on the work of the last few years to simplify the standards, ensuring that MCS technical requirements are easier to understand.
Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, said: “This is the next chapter in the development of MCS and the crucial role that it plays in the adoption of small-scale renewable technology. We wish to deploy a new scheme, focused on establishing the evidence of quality as delivered to customers and less on back-office systems and paperwork. In addition, we plan for a step change in customer service, support and protections. This will be elevated and delivered through a new “customer duty” with obligations to safeguard customers embedded directly into the scheme itself.”
The full consultation can be read in full here. MCS invites comments on the proposed changes with a deadline of 09.00 on Monday 17 July.
