DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/155)
issued by The Government News Network on 29 July 2008
A fully-fledged
quality mark 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 a number of certification providers
to give the industry more options when seeking approval for
products and services.
Plans have also been approved to appoint a new administrator for
the MCS. The initial two year contract with the Building Research
Establishment (BRE) comes to an end this September.
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.
Malcolm Wicks said:
"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."
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."
Notes to Editors
1. In September 2006, BERR (then DTI) contracted the Building
Research Establishment to set up and run the MCS for the first two
years. This was necessary to put in place scheme structures,
develop product and installation standards and to work towards
UKAS accreditation which was achieved in May this year.
2. Competent person schemes were introduced by the Government to
allow individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work
complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to
submitting a building notice or using an approved inspector.
3. All certification bodies will need to be UKAS accredited or to
be working towards accreditation under the guidance of UKAS within
a 12 month time frame. BERR will be providing more information on
how this will work in practice at a meeting for certification
bodies on 12 August 2008 at 1030am. Certification bodies should
email Paul Rochester to confirm attendance: paul.rochester@berr.gsi.gov.uk
4. Further information about MCS is available at: http://www.ukmicrogeneration.org
5. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
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Public enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
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