EC approves Microgeneration Certification Scheme

The European Commission has approved the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

This means specifiers working in microgeneration will now be able to work with a list of approved products.

MCS assesses heat pumps, solar heating collections, micro wind turbines, and non roof-integrated solar photovoltaic products.

Chris Beedel, MCS scheme manager at BRE Global, said: “MCS will evaluate products and installers against robust criteria for each of the microgeneration technologies.”

He said it will protect consumers and help to build “a rapidly growing microgeneration industry based on quality and reliability.”

The standards are currently being finalised for integrated solar PV and solar heating collectors, inverters, biomass, hydro turbines, combined heat and power as well as fuel cell products.

So far the scheme has attracted more than 400 installer applications and over 100 assessments have already been completed.

Once certified, installers will be able to carry out installations which are eligible for grants under the Low Carbon Building Programme.