Microgeneration Certification Scheme
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a government-sponsored organisation designed to ensure its members – including green energy installers such as GLE – are run professionally and ethically, so that consumers are protected from inefficient or unscrupulous operators.
Your green energy system must be installed by an MCS-accredited company, such as GLE, if you wish to claim any of the government’s Feed-In Tariffs or Renewable Heat Incentive.
GLE is accredited for Solar Photovoltaic, Heat Pumps and Solar Thermal, and has partners that cover the other technologies.
GLE is also a member of the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and holds REAL Insurance, as an added customer reassurance.
How does the MCS affect installers?
The MCS is an internationally recognised quality assurance scheme, which demonstrates to consumers that accredited companies are committed to meeting rigorous and tested standards. It was designed with input from installer and product representatives. Similar to the Gas Safe Register, the MCS gives you a mark of competency and demonstrates that members can install to the highest quality every time.
Installer certification entails assessing the supply, design, installation, set-to-work and commissioning of renewable microgeneration technologies.
Scheme Benefits
In this rapidly growing industry, installers and products that carry the MCS Mark are likely to be seen as the preferred option in the market place. This is because MCS is linked to many of the key factors driving demand, such as Feed-In Tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Code for Sustainable Homes:
Feed-In Tariffs which will provide guaranteed payments to individuals, business and communities for small-scale electricity generation. For technologies where there is an MCS standard, both the technology and the installer must be MCS certificated to be eligible.
Since 1st April 2010, any new sub-50 kW electricity-led MCS installation is eligible to receive Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). FITs are paid at different rates depending on the technology and the installed capacity.
If your installation is sub-50kW, you need to use an MCS certificated installer and product to be eligible for FITs. An MCS installer (like GLE) will provide you with an MCS Certificate once the installation is complete. To register for the FIT payments, you will need to take the MCS Certificate to your FIT Licensee (an Electricity Company) who will complete the registration process.
There will be no change to your FIT payment if the MCS product you installed is removed from the MCS list after you have successfully registered.
The Renewable Heat Incentive is planned for 2011 and will provide cash back to individuals, business and communities for renewable heat generation. The Government has indicated that the Renewable Heat Incentive is being linked to MCS products and installers.
Following the recent spending review, the government has confirmed that RHI will be going ahead in June 2011. RHI will allow consumers to receive incentives for generating their own heat energy, similar to the FITs for consumers generating their own electricity. Full details on RHI are to be published, but up-to-date information can be found on the website of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
MCS is being used by the government as a yardstick for which micro-generation installations should be eligible for financial incentives under the Clean Energy Cashback scheme. Clean Energy Cash-back takes two forms – Feed-in Tariffs, and Renewable Heat Incentive.
For more information, visit: http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/
Renewable Energy Association Ltd (REA)
R E A is the voice of the renewables industry in the UK. It represents renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy in the UK.
A trusted voice for the industry, REA covers the full spectrum of the renewable energy t echnologies across all the sectors: power, heat, transport and renewable gas.
Its ever-increasing membership is now over 650 companies, ranging from major multinationals through to sole traders. introduction to the REAL Assurance Scheme
The REAL Assurance Scheme has been set up by the Renewable Energy Association. It aims to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small generation units for their home, for a community building or for a small business. REAL membership is a sign that the supplier has agreed to abide by the high standards as set out in our Consumer Code. The REAL logo is a symbol of professional excellence.
The aim of the REAL Assurance Scheme is to ensure that consumers wishing to install a small-scale heat or power generation unit for their homes have the necessary confidence and service standards so that they can make an informed choice.
Who are REAL Members?
Members are firms selling or leasing small-scale renewable or low carbon heat or power generation unit who have agreed to comply with the REAL Assurance Scheme Consumer Code. This Code is backed by the Office of Fair Trading as part of its self-regulation initiative, the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
The Consumer Code, the Consumer Guidelines and the other guidance documents on the REA web-site are designed to help consumers get advice on generation solutions, without being subjected to negative marketing/sales tactics, and to ensure high standards of service before, during and after a contract is agreed.
Why is guidance needed?
It is important that micro generation equipment is specified, installed and maintained correctly, not only for the individual customer, but also for the development of the renewable energy industry at large. Unsuccessful applications will damage the reputation and credibility of this newly-emerging environmental sector.
We are aware of a small number of cases where becoming a micro generator has not turned out to be a happy experience for the consumer. REA’s understanding leads us to believe that this can sometimes result from unrealistic expectations on the part of the customer. This could be the fault of either party. The REA guide - aimed at the customer, and the full Consumer Code - to be followed by member companies, aims to ensure this does not happen.
Micro generation consumers are not necessarily technical experts, and nor should they need to be. On the other hand, without being an expert, consumers should make some effort to understand what they are purchasing. They should have a clear understanding of their expectations, and appreciate the extent to which the system proposed can reasonably meet them.
The REA guide is designed to help consumers to get what they want from a micro generation system. By following it, it will give comfort that the company with which you are dealing is following the REAL Assurance Scheme Consumer Code for the supply of renewable and micro heat and power generators.
