Consumers given confidence to go green
13 August 2008
A scheme has been established to give consumers confidence in the standards they can expect from green energy products and installers.
Building on a two-year development phase, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has approved plans to open up the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to give the industry more options when seeking approval for products and services.
The MCS aims to build a sustainable microgeneration industry based on quality and reliability, to provide consumer confidence that products and installers meet, and continue to meet, robust standards.
Nearly 450 installer companies and over 30 product manufacturers have already registered under the development phase of the scheme. Certification gives companies permission to display the MCS logo to promote services or on their microgeneration products. It will be important for the industry to have wider access to certification providers as the sector develops significantly in response to the UK’s ambitious green energy programme.
Organisations will also be able to register as a certification body, alongside BRE Global Ltd.
“The Microgeneration Certification Scheme has made good progress over the past two years. It is important the vital work carried out by the Building Research Establishment 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.” Wicks Said.
Charles Bradshaw-Smith, E.ON’s Head of Innovation, and an industry representative on the MCS Steering Group said “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.”