Updates to four MCS Product Standards

2 August 2024

Following extensive rewrite MCS has published updated versions of the following Product Standards:

MCS 004 – The Solar Heating Product Standard Issue 4.0

MCS 005 – The Solar PV Product Standard Issue 4.0

MCS 006 – The Small Wind Turbine Product Standard Issue 2.0

MCS 017 – The Bespoke Building Integrated PV Product Standard Issue 2.0

The changes aim to create an updated set of documents that not only include new requirements for manufacturers but modernize the standards as a whole and incorporate the following changes:

  • Improve overall structure with a new document style and layout
  • Simplify and clarify the language / new MCS standard text
  • Updated references to other standards
  • Feedback from the industry and the Working Group

More specifically the updates address:

MCS 004

  • Testing criteria now includes reference to ISO 9806
  • Removal of collectors which are not of the liquid flat plate or liquid evacuated tube type
  • Change of language from Solar Thermal to Solar Heating
  • New definitions for Solar Heating System, Solar Collector Array, Solar Heating Collectors and PVThermal (PVT) Collector
  • Informative Reference to ISO 9488 included

MCS 005

  • Incorporates a new reference to product families to reflect how product families are determined and tested.
  • Introduces new test conditions for bifacial modules for determining the power output.
  • Clarifies the eligibility of modules with integrated module-level power electronics (MLPE) to be certified.

MCS 006

  • Removal of the 50kW limit to enable better reciprocity with other Wind Turbine product schemes around the world.
  • Incorporation of RenewableUK Small Wind Turbine Standard (2014).
  • Incorporation of RenewableUK Small Technical Note: Guidance regarding inverter changes in Small Wind Turbine Systems.

MCS 017

  • Introduces new test conditions to account for bifacial modules.
  • Clarifies whether modules with module power level electronics (MLPE), such as micro inverters, can still be approved under the Standard.
  • Clarifies the conditions for connectors in product families.

All MCS Standards are freely available in the MCS Standards & Tools Library.