Microgeneration certification extended

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has approved plans to open up the government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) following a two-year development phase.

The scheme will be open to a number of certification providers to give the industry more options when seeking approval for products and services.

Nearly 450 installer companies and over 30 product manufacturers have already registered during the development phase.

Certification gives companies permission to display the MCS logo to promote services or their microgeneration products.

Organisations will also be able to register as certification bodies. An initial two-year contract with the Building Research Establishment (BRE Global) comes to an end this September.

Malcolm Wicks said: “The Microgeneration Certification Scheme has made good progress over the past two years. It is important the vital work carried out by the BRE and industry led steering group is continued under a new administrator.

“I look forward to other certification bodies joining the MCS to deliver reliable installations for microgenerators across the UK.

“Households, businesses and communities can play an important role in reducing carbon emissions by generating their own electricity or heat from renewable energy sources. It is important consumers can rely on the MCS to oversee this is done responsibly and effectively.”

Charles Bradshaw-Smith, E.ON’s head of innovation and an industry representative on the MCS Steering Group commented: “Opening up the Scheme, something which had been a long-term aim and is now being realised, should not only help reduce costs for installers and manufacturers but ensure a right balance between delivering standards to protect consumers and helping the industry to meet the costs of robust certification.

“We look forward to certification agents and Competent Person Schemes offering one stop shops for installers and manufacturers and reducing barriers in to the microgeneration sector.”