MCS consultation receives huge cross-industry response

7 August 2023

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) recently ran a six-week consultation on proposals to redevelop the scheme. The consultation ran from 5 June until 17 July seeking views from contractors, consumers, manufacturers and independent experts on how we should shape the future of MCS.

MCS was pleased with the volume of responses to the consultation and the breadth of evidence and information that each of them contained. They received 106 official responses and, in addition, 187 informal responses commenting on proposals or responding to surveys. Over 50% of the respondents were installers of renewable energy and heating technologies.

In readiness for the consultation, MCS had engaged policy makers and industry experts, including those who are active in the MCS standards community. The consultation also saw responses from several large, recognised organisations across the industry including the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority), Ofgem, Citizen’s Advice, industry trade bodies, and the certification bodies and consumer codes that MCS works with.

MCS CEO, Ian Rippin, said “Our proposals to redevelop our scheme represent the next step in the development of MCS and the small-scale renewables industry. The changes we have consulted on reflect the large volume of feedback we receive from the sector and its consumers as to what works well and what needs to improve to give people confidence in low-carbon technology. As a Standards setting organisation it is important that we take time to step back and examine how MCS is working.

“The consultation was critical to us because it is vitally important that our stakeholders have the opportunity to shape the industry and provide input into how it is managed. We were pleased by the number of responses, and it was particularly encouraging that we received such a high level of engagement from the installer community. We’re so grateful to everyone that took the time to consider the initial proposals and provide feedback, it will have a genuine impact on what we do. We will be taking some time to carefully consider all the feedback before we announce our finalised proposals in the coming months.”

MCS will be working to collate and consider feedback before publishing a summary of responses in September. Finalised proposals to redevelop the scheme will follow with the redevelopment planned to come into effect in the second quarter of 2024.