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This is a Certification scheme for Companies

United Kingdom – Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a voluntary certification scheme led by industry. MCS promotes the development of industry standards, technical competences and aims to strengthen consumer protection by linking to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute approved Code of Practice for misselling. (The Renewable Energy Consumer Code – REC and Home Insulation and Energy Systems – HIES) The scheme was launched in 2006 and includes installation company and product certification within the scheme requiring the installation and manufacturing companies to be operating under a approval via the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). MCS maintains a register of installation companies certified to install under each... Read more

Links to more information about the scheme

microgenerationcertification.org

Certification

Certification Bodies

MCS installers and MCS products are certified by the certification bodies (CB) which are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). These organisations carry out the relevant assessments and inspections to ensure that installers meet the MCS requirements. They can also assist in cases of mis-selling or where there are technical problems with installations. The Installation scheme operates at a company level, requiring the company to demonstrate how they believe the company meets the scheme requirements.

Certification Providers

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual

Technologies covered by the scheme

Supported Technology, Size and Possibility of Financial Support						Are any other qualifications required to practice?
Technology	Size Min and Max sizes	Necessity of Cert./ Qual. Is the scheme mandatory or voluntary for the technology listed?	Supporting financial schemes? Are there any supporting financial schemes?	Necessity for financial support Is it mandatory to be certified to qualify for the financial incentive?	EQF What level of education according to European Qualifications Framework is the scheme equivalent to? [?]	Plumber Is the supporting qualification as a plumber required?	Electrician Is the supporting qualification as an electrician required?	Parts Is a specializiation in the companents required as a supporting qualification?	Other Other requirement details	Financial Schemes
Air Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. bore hole knowledge, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Biomass	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L7					Renewable Heat Incentive
Ground Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. bore hole knowledge, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Micro Combined	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. structure, advanced heating	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme
Solar Photovoltaic	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. roofing, working at height.	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme
Solar Thermal	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. roofing, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Water Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. extraction, refrigeration etc.
Wind	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				... Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. mast construction, working at height.	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme

Supported Technology, Size and Possibility of Financial Support						Are any other qualifications required to practice?
Technology	Size Min and Max sizes	Necessity of Cert./ Qual. Is the scheme mandatory or voluntary for the technology listed?	Supporting financial schemes? Are there any supporting financial schemes?	Necessity for financial support Is it mandatory to be certified to qualify for the financial incentive?	EQF What level of education according to European Qualifications Framework is the scheme equivalent to? [?]	Plumber Is the supporting qualification as a plumber required?	Electrician Is the supporting qualification as an electrician required?	Parts Is a specializiation in the companents required as a supporting qualification?	Other Other requirement details	Supporting Financial Schemes
Air Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. bore hole knowledge, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Biomass	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L7					Renewable Heat Incentive
Ground Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. bore hole knowledge, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Micro Combined	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. structure, advanced heating	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme
Solar Photovoltaic	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. roofing, working at height.	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme
Solar Thermal	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. roofing, working at height.	Renewable Heat Incentive
Water Heat Pump	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. extraction, refrigeration etc.
Wind	... >70kW	Voluntary			EQF L6				Specific criteria relevant to the technology not covered in the core –prerequisites e.g. mast construction, working at height.	Feed in Tariff https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme

The following competencies are covered by the Certification/Qualification

Legislation, subsidies and standards
Costs/Benefit analysis (eg. payback period)
Design (appropriate design of system dependent in relation to targeted heating system)
Installation (actual installation process)
Commissioning (ensure effective commissioning of system for optimal performance)
Monitoring (operational or performance monitoring)
Maintenance (understanding of maintenance and warranty based issues)
Other	Most packages currently cover the financial incentives, unvented hot water and health and safety MCS is just launching a public consultation to include the following in all: Surveying Awareness of all technologies Metering Design (Full scope and defined scope) Energy efficiency Effective communications

Training costs and duration

Average training cost	€1,001 - €3,000
Ongoing Costs in order to be Certified/Qualified	Yes The Scheme costs for installation companies are £110 per year, plus £15 per installation to generate a MCS Certificate for the customer, with CBs having administrative costs in addition to this.
What is the anticipated duration of training for full certification/ qualification?	less than 3 months

Training Consists of the following elements

Theory	Optional
Practical	Optional
Workplace Learning	Optional
Examination	Optional
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)	Optional
Ongoing Quality Control	Mandatory

Ongoing review of standards

The Certification is valid for	3 - 5 years
Requalification is required
Inspections of the installers work are carried out
Evaluation of wider standards

If an installer is not compliant with the standards set out in the certification/qualification the following penalties may apply

A financial penalty could apply
Retraining may be required
Suspension from the scheme
Exclusion from the scheme
None

Customers of a certified/ qualified installer may benefit from the following insurance

Damage to the renewable energy system
Damage to wider energy infrastructure within end-users’ home
Structural or building damage
Significant degradation in system performance
Poor consumer code of conduct

The process for recognising the Certifications/ Qualifications issued by another member state (mutual recognition)

There is an established process for mutual recognition
Details	Those wishing to become a MCS certified installer must do so by applying to an MCS Certification Body. Installers are certified against the MCS Standards (can be accessed via this link microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards?id=17 )

Documentation required when applying for mutual recognition
Evidence of certification
Evidence of formal training
Declaration
Evidence of quality

Additional tests or monitoring expected when applying for mutual recognition
An aptitude test
Undergo a period of monitoring
Demonstrate continuous professional development
Evidence of quality of installations

Other
Expected to demonstrate language ability
Expected to demonstrate insurance

Statistical Info

Renewable Heat Incentive monthly deployment data gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-heat-incentive-statistics

Feed in Tariff statistics gov.uk/government/collections/feed-in-tariff-statistics

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