Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
The certification standard required for UK renewable-energy grants. Last reviewed April 2026 by the TradeMatch editorial team.
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the UK quality assurance scheme for renewable energy installations and the products themselves. Both the installer and the equipment must be MCS-certified for the work to qualify for government incentives — currently the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) for heat pumps (£7,500 grant) and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) for solar PV. MCS was set up in 2008 and is currently overseen by an industry-government partnership. It covers solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass, wind and battery storage installations.
Visit Official Register ↗
What does MCS cover?
MCS certifies both installers and products. To qualify for grants or feed-in payments, both halves must be MCS-certified — an MCS-installer fitting non-MCS equipment is not eligible, and vice versa. MCS issues an MCS Certificate after each installation, registered on the public MCS database. This certificate is what utilities and DNOs require for grid connection and SEG export-tariff registration. MCS does not cover gas, oil or pure electrical installations — those fall under Gas Safe, OFTEC or NICEIC.
Verifying a MCS-registered tradesperson
- MCS contractor ID — verify on mcscertified.com; the public register lists all currently-certified installers
- MCS Certificate issued within 10 working days of commissioning — required for BUS / SEG / grid connection
- Both installer AND product must be MCS-certified — ask for the product's MCS certificate ID at quote stage
MCS applies to these trades
100%of TradeMatch payments held in escrow
Every job, every payment, every time. Funds held in a segregated client account until you sign off the work.
- Held in escrowFrom the moment the deposit clears until the job is signed off.
- Released on sign-offFunds release within 24 hours of you confirming the work is done to spec.
- Disputed = frozenIf something is wrong, the payment freezes pending review by our resolution team.
TradeMatch escrow operates through FCA-regulated payment providers. Customer funds are segregated from operating accounts and protected under UK consumer law.
MCS FAQ
Do I need MCS for the £7,500 heat-pump grant?
Yes. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) requires the installer, the heat pump and the installation to be MCS-certified. No MCS = no grant. This is the single most common reason heat-pump grant applications are rejected.
Can a non-MCS installer fit MCS-certified equipment?
Yes — but the resulting installation is NOT MCS-certified and does not qualify for grants, feed-in tariffs or smart-export payments. The certification covers the entire install, not just the kit.
How long does MCS certification take to verify?
Instant via the public MCS database (mcscertified.com). Always verify the contractor before signing — installers occasionally lapse on their annual reassessment.
MCS vs RECC vs HIES — what's the difference?
MCS is the technical certification (installer + product). RECC and HIES are consumer-protection codes that MCS installers must additionally sign up to. RECC covers solar / battery / heat pump consumer rights; HIES covers a wider home-improvement remit. All MCS contractors will be members of one or the other.
Why MCS verification matters before any deposit
Lapsed accreditations are the most common silent failure on UK trade hires — registrations expire annually and not every trader updates their listing. Always verify the MCS number on the public register on the day you sign, not at first meeting. On TradeMatch, every MCS-registered tradesperson is independently re-checked before they can quote on your job, and the registration link is shown on their profile so you can confirm yourself.
Get a MCS-Verified Quote
Up to 5 quotes from UK tradespeople — every MCS-relevant member independently verified by TradeMatch. Escrow-protected payments. Reviews tied to completed jobs only.
Post a Job Free