MCS

Looking back on last year, we brought together a group of our MCS certified contractors to celebrate reaching 4,000 contractors on the Scheme. Now, less than a year later, MCS has surpassed 5,000 contractors on the Scheme, providing consumers across the UK with even greater access to quality small-scale renewable installers for their homes. This milestone reflects not only the rising demand for MCS certified contractors but also consumers growing confidence in turning to low-carbon technologies to heat and power their homes. Read more on this milestone here 👉 https://bit.ly/4eMpT0y

In September, we brought together our Technical Working Group members, for our Annual Working Group Conference in London. The day provided our Standards community with the opportunity to collaborate and network with members from across all of our Technical Working Groups as well as the MCS team. The MCS Technical Working Groups are made up of more than 200 independent experts from across the sector, including installers, manufacturers, trade associations, certification bodies, consumer groups, educators, and independent specialists. There is a total of eight Technical Working Groups, spanning the different technologies that MCS cover. David Heath, the Independent Chair of MCS Standards, believes “MCS Standards are absolute integral to the success of small-scale renewables, as they give consumers confidence in home-grown energy which is so crucial in driving uptake.” Read more on the brains behind MCS Standards here 👉 https://bit.ly/4eWh4RJ #Standards #SmallScaleRenewables #GreenSector #Industry #Collaboration #WorkingGroups

Important Update on Solar PV Fire Classifications 📣 Due to a recent change in European standards (effective September 2023), fire test labs can no longer issue fire classifications for solar PV modules. This is crucial for roof-integrated systems, as fire classification is needed to comply with Building Regulations and to obtain MCS product certification. MCS has been actively working with regulators, governments, and testing bodies to find a solution to ensure the UK’s solar PV deployment isn't impacted. We’re urgently seeking responses from BSI and MHCLG. Read our full update here 👉 https://bit.ly/3Ao3Yxw

Join MCS Head of Scheme at 10.00am on Wednesday 23 October, for ‘New year, new MCS’, a webinar with Elemental. The redeveloped MCS Scheme is set to launch in January 2025. It is a significant change for the small-scale renewables sector, which will drive up standards and improve consumer protections. Alexandra Hughes, Head of Scheme at MCS, will discuss what the key changes are, look at how they will help to drive up confidence in renewables, and answer installer questions on what this means for their MCS certification. The webinar will be hosted by Lucy Dixon from Elemental and they will be joined by: -Jon Bonnar, Managing Director, Cotswold Energy Group -Steve Edmonds, Design & Technical Manager, T B Electrics & Home Improvements Ltd -Barry Sharp, Managing Director, Renewable Heat Save your spot here👇

Throughout the first three quarters of 2024, heat pump installations have consistently exceeded those of the same months in 2023. By the end of September 2024, the UK recorded 42,066 MCS certified heat pump installations, already surpassing the total of 40,426 installations for all of 2023, making 2024 the most successful year for the technology to date. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has been a key driver in the expansion of heat pumps across England and Wales. Under the scheme, homeowners and small business owners can apply for a £7,500 grant, provided that both the heat pump product and the installer are MCS certified. This grant makes heat pumps more accessible and affordable, while ensuring installations meet high-quality, industry-recognised MCS standards. Commenting on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s instrumental role in heat pump deployment, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of the Heat Pump Association (HPA), said that: “The growth in heat pump deployment within the UK is welcome, and it’s great to see that 2024 is another record-breaking year. This milestone coupled with the Secretary of State’s announcement to over-allocate vouchers for the 2024/25 Boiler Upgrade Scheme, should ensure the positive trajectory of heat pump installations continues for the rest of the financial year. “ Read more on heat pumps record breaking year here 👉 https://bit.ly/3NsTvEb #HeatPump #AirSource #GroundSource #BoilerUpgradeScheme #Grant #HeatPumpAssociation Ofgem Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

The Scheme has just surpassed 200,000 MCS certified installations for 2024! MCS installation and contractor data is freely available for everyone to view and use on the MCS Data Dashboard now. Updating in near-real-time, it provides a dynamic picture of the uptake of solar, heat pumps, and other small-scale renewables across the UK. The Data Dashboard has been updated to include new features including: -The addition of battery storage installations. -The ability to break down the data by months as well as years. -The addition of installation and contractor data from the Isle of Man. -A new chart available showing the total count of certified contractors on a monthly basis. Visit the MCS Data Dashboard now 👉 https://bit.ly/40Hb3R8 #Data #DataDashboard #HeatPumps #SolarPV #BatteryStorage #Contractors #SmallScaleRenewables #LowCarbonTechnologies

Last night our PR Lead, Edward Parsons, Communications Assistant, Tara-Jayne France, People & Culture Advisor, Kate Eden-Franklin, and Head of People & Culture, Sarah-Louise Howard Assoc CIPD, attended the UKSPA 40th Anniversary Awards at the University of Warwick. We are proud to say MCS was nominated for the ‘Most Successful Company’ award. A huge congratulations to all winners and nominees, it was great to see the hard work across the industry and connect with familiar faces too, including Sci-Tech Daresbury where the MCS office is based. Thank you UKSPA - The United Kingdom Science Park Association! #Awards #Gala #UKSPA

5,000 MCS certified contractors on the Scheme! 🎉 This is a proud moment for MCS and reflects the month-on-month increase in the number of installers wanting to gain and maintain their MCS certification. The milestone highlights the growing confidence in MCS and the Scheme we deliver and reflects the growing uptake of small-scale renewables across the UK. Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, said, “MCS is incredibly proud to have certified more than 5,000 contractors, giving consumers confidence in the quality, safety and performance of their renewable installation when transitioning to cleaner, greener heating solutions.” Read more on this incredible milestone here 👉 https://bit.ly/4eMpT0y #Contractors #Celebration #SmallScaleRenewables #Milestone

That's a wrap on our first time exhibiting at Everything Electric! Throughout 2024, we attended three shows across the country: Everything Electric London, Everything Electric North, and Everything Electric South. As MCS prepares to bring consumer protections in-house as part of the Scheme redevelopment, it was great to engage with consumers nationwide about the exciting potential of installing small-scale renewables in their homes. We also had the opportunity to join one of our MCS certified contractors, OVO Energy, in their Energy Advice Zone at all three exhibitions. Additionally, the events provided members of the MCS team with opportunities to participate in various speaker sessions and panels, all aimed at raising consumer awareness about these low-carbon technologies. Read more on MCS' first presence at Everything Electric here 👉 https://bit.ly/403qq9O FullyCharged.SHOW & Everything Electric OVO Excel London Yorkshire Event Centre Farnborough International #EverythingElectric #FullyChargedShow #Consumers #ConsumerProtections #Events #Electric #SmallScaleRenewables #ElectricEvent

MCS recently announced that 2024 has become a record-breaking year for certified heat pump installations under the Scheme. In 2023, the UK saw 40,426 heat pump installations, but with over 42,000 installations already recorded in 2024, this year has now surpassed all previous years in performance. Bean Beanland, Director of Growth & External Affairs at the , said “The growth in the deployment rates for domestic heat pump systems is a real cause for celebration and is testament to the hard work put in by installers and the supply chain. Exceeding the total for 2023 by Q4 this year is a tremendous success and confirms that the increased level of the Boiler Upgrade Grant (BUS) has really stimulated homeowners." Read more on the best year ever for MCS certified heat pump installations here 👇 Installer