Opinion piece by Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme

When it comes to investing in renewable technology, consumers can, understandably, feel cautious about transitioning away from their fossil fuel systems, especially when they have relied on those systems for years to heat and power their homes or small businesses.

At MCS, our mission is to give consumers confidence in small-scale renewable technologies, by defining how they should be installed, perform and maintained. We’re here to set standards and provide protection, driving forward the uptake of small-scale renewables across the nation to help meet the UK’s net zero targets. I take great pride in the work we do at MCS, empowering consumers to make the switch to renewable energy.

2023 was a record-breaking year for small-scale renewable technologies, with our annual figures showing that we certified 229,618 small-scale renewable installations across the UK. This marks a 33% increase on 2022, reflecting both the growth of the industry and the growing number of consumers investing in MCS certified technologies.

I’m delighted to see this momentum carry forward into 2024, with nearly 45,000 certified installations already recorded across the UK since the year began. As the public demand for self-sufficiency and affordable energy continues to grow, so does the demand for MCS certified contractors. Consumers want their renewable technologies installed to industry recognised Standards, by a competent and trustworthy MCS certified contractor. Choosing an MCS certified contractor is the only way to ensure this. We’ve seen a total of 359 new contractors join the MCS Scheme in 2024, bringing our total contractor base to nearly 4,650. With the demand for renewable energy rising, there’s a risk of unqualified contractors entering the market to capitalise on potential earnings. This is why we place so much emphasis on the trustworthiness of an MCS certified contractor.  

I’m exceptionally proud of our growing contractor base and the fantastic progress they’ve made in installing quality renewable energy systems to heat and power our nation’s homes.

Wales continues to lead the way in terms of small-scale renewable installation uptake, surpassing the rest of the UK nations. At the end of February, Wales ended the month on top with over 8.6% of Welsh households having some form of renewable technology installed.  It’s fantastic to see the positive impact that supportive Welsh Government policy is having on low-carbon technology deployment in Wales. Incentives such as the Welsh Government’s Warm Homes Nest Scheme and the Optimised Retrofit Programme are making renewable technologies more accessible and affordable for consumers across Wales.

Scotland fell short of Wales with just under 8.4% of Scottish households having some form of renewable technology installed. England was third, with 5.8%, and Northern Ireland fourth, with 4.4% of households having a renewable installation.

It’s no surprise that solar PV continues to be the leading small-scale renewable technology being installed across the UK. We saw just short of 190,000 installations across the UK in 2023 alone, with a staggering 76% of our contractor base now certified for solar technology. Our contractors are finding that homeowners want a relatively hassle-free renewable technology source that is easy to maintain – solar PV ticks all these boxes.

We’re also seeing demand for heat pumps going from strength-to-strength, with over 8,000 MCS certified heat pumps installed across the UK so far in 2024. January was also the best performing start to the year for heat pumps in Scheme history. It’s great to see the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) continue to play a critical role in making heat pumps more accessible and affordable for homeowners across England and Wales, with the latest figures showing a 39% increase in applications year on year.

MCS continues to support training providers across England and Wales as they prepare to launch the new Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship. The apprenticeship will equip a new generation with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to have a successful career in low carbon heating sector. It is critical that we have dedicated pathways to develop a force of renewable heating installers with certifiable skills who know how to design and fit these systems efficiently. Most importantly, this workforce will know how to support homeowners in heating and decarbonising their homes.

2023 was a record-breaking year for battery storage, with nearly 5,000 MCS certified installations registered across the UK. We’re seeing this momentum for battery storage carry forward into 2024, with over 2,200 certified installations already recorded since the year began, setting the stage for what looks to be another record-breaking year for this technology. 

Battery storage now ranks as the third most popular technology type to be installed amongst our contractor base, with over 1,100 contractors now certified for the technology. This has increased from February 2023, having just 93 contractors certified for battery storage, our contractor base has grown by over 10 times in the space of a year. February of this year marked a milestone month for battery storage, it was the highest month on record for uptake, and the first to surpass 1,000 installations.

The future of small-scale renewable installations is becoming increasingly important to reach the UK’s net zero targets. I look forward to seeing more UK homeowners transition to renewable energy to heat and power their homes in 2024. I’m proud of the work MCS is doing to give people confidence in home-grown energy and I’m eager to continue our crucial role in the decarbonisation of the UK’s homes. MCS will continue to inform the industry on the uptake of small-scale renewable technology installations, the adoption of renewable technology is very much needed if we are to reach government net zero targets