The Microgeneration Certification Scheme and Product Eligibility List explained
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme MCS was launched in 2007 as a Government backed scheme, in April 2018, the scheme transferred to the MCS Service Company Limited, and the MCS Charitable Foundation. It is responsible for certifying Microgeneration installers and products and providing listings of these for consumers.
Ofgem publishes a Product Eligibility List (PEL) spreadsheet that shows the makes and models of renewable heating products which they have assessed as eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) based on information supplied by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). It is updated regularly and includes instructions about how to use it.
In September 2023 the MCS website contained just over 4,000 MCS qualified installers in the UK. The search function of the website used to find installers can be found here https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/
In September 2023 the MCS website also contained products that meet appropriate MCS standards, this list currently contains over 65,000 products. The search function of the website to find products can be found here https://mcscertified.com/product-directory/
The Product Eligibility List (PEL) is a shorter list which is published by Ofgem. This lists products that meet MCS standards, but are specifically air, ground and water source heat pumps as well as biomass boilers, eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). As of September 20, 2023 there were just under 3,000 products in these areas, all of which are recognised by the current Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). This scheme also requires an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to be prepared for the property in question and recommendations to be fulfilled and for the installer to be MCS qualified.
To search through the products available and recognised by the boiler upgrade scheme a downloadable excel can be found here https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/boiler-upgrade-scheme-product-eligibility
For further information on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme read our article Boiler Upgrade Scheme: changes to grant levels.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Articles by the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA).
- Boiler.
- Boiler markets and the green recovery.
- Building heating systems.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: changes to grant levels.
- CIOB holds net zero event with industry experts and UK Government.
- Domestic heat pumps and the electricity supply system.
- Energy performance certificate EPC.
- Fabric first will safeguard heat decarbonisation.
- Heat pump.
- Low carbon in the construction industry.
- Microgeneration certification scheme.
- Net zero strategy: build back greener.
- Performance gap in low energy housing.
- Renewable heat incentive RHI.
- Thermal comfort in buildings.
- Types of heat pump.
Featured articles and news
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.