MCS certification is not a legal requirement for a small wind turbine, but you need it to get paid for exported electricity. For installations up to 50kW, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) requires the turbine and the installer to be MCS certified (or certified under an equivalent scheme).
Two things are certified separately: the turbine model (product standard MCS 006) and the installer (installation standard MIS 3003). Both must be in place.
What is MCS certification?
MCS stands for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It is an industry quality scheme, backed by the UK government, that sets standards for small-scale low-carbon energy systems - generally electricity systems up to 50kW and heat systems up to 45kW - and for the companies that install them.
It works on two levels. Products are tested and certified against a product standard, and installers are assessed against an installation standard, then audited on an ongoing basis. Installers must also belong to a consumer code, which gives you a complaints route and protections such as deposit handling.
MCS is a certification scheme, not a law. Nothing stops you installing a system that is not MCS certified, but several schemes and funders use MCS certification as their proof of quality.
Which technologies does MCS cover?
| Technology | Where MCS certification matters |
|---|---|
| Small wind turbines | Needed to join the Smart Export Guarantee for systems up to 50kW |
| Solar PV | Needed to join the Smart Export Guarantee for systems up to 50kW |
| Air and ground source heat pumps | Needed to claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant |
| Biomass boilers | Needed to claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant |
MCS also covers other technologies such as solar thermal and battery storage. Certification is awarded technology by technology, so an installer certified for solar PV is not automatically certified for wind.
Small wind turbines: MCS requirements in the UK
If you are planning a small wind turbine, MCS certification has several parts.
1. The turbine must be MCS certified
The turbine model must hold product certification against the MCS product standard for small wind turbines (MCS 006). This checks the turbine's safety and its declared performance, such as power output at stated wind speeds. At the time of writing, relatively few small turbine models hold this certification, so check the MCS product directory before you choose a turbine, not after.
2. The installer must be MCS certified for wind
The installer must be certified to the MCS installation standard for small wind turbines (MIS 3003). The installer is responsible for:
- assessing the site, including wind resource, obstructions and turbulence
- designing the system and giving you a written performance estimate before you sign a contract
- installing, connecting and commissioning the turbine to the standard
- handing over documentation, and registering the installation so an MCS certificate is issued to you
3. The installation has to be within the standard's scope
The current installation standard is written for turbines on dedicated free-standing or guyed towers that supply a permanent building. Roof-mounted micro turbines are generally outside it. Wind is also very site dependent: turbines in sheltered or built-up locations often generate much less than their headline rating suggests, so a proper site assessment matters more than the turbine's brochure figure.
4. Planning permission is a separate matter
MCS certification does not give you planning permission. Rules on wind turbines differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and most stand-alone turbines need planning permission. Noise and siting are the usual concerns. Check with your local planning authority first - see our guides to planning permission and the permitted development checker.
MCS and the Smart Export Guarantee
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is the scheme under which larger electricity suppliers pay you for surplus electricity your system exports to the grid. It replaced the Feed-in Tariff, which closed to new applicants in 2019.
For installations up to 50kW, suppliers will ask you to show that the installation and installer are MCS certified or certified under an equivalent scheme, and they usually cross-check this against the MCS database. You also need a meter that records your exports, which is normally a smart meter. Tariff rates are set by each supplier and vary, so compare them. See our Smart Export Guarantee glossary entry for a short definition.
Wind turbines do not qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which covers heat pumps and biomass boilers only.
How to check an MCS installer
- Search the MCS installer directory on the MCS website and filter for the technology you want, such as small wind.
- Check the scope of their certificate. It must cover the technology and size of system you are buying.
- Check consumer code membership (for example the Renewable Energy Consumer Code), which protects your deposit and gives you a complaints route.
- Get a written performance estimate and the turbine's MCS product certificate details before you sign.
- Get three quotes and ask each installer how they assessed the wind at your site.
- After commissioning, ask for your MCS certificate and keep it with your handover pack. You will need it for your SEG application, and when you sell the property.
Frequently asked questions
Is MCS certification a legal requirement for a small wind turbine?
No. It is not a legal requirement and it does not replace planning permission or building control where they apply. In practice you need it to join the Smart Export Guarantee for systems up to 50kW, and lenders, insurers and warranty providers often expect it.
Can I get Smart Export Guarantee payments without MCS certification?
For installations up to 50kW, generally not. Suppliers will normally ask you to show that the installation and installer are MCS certified or certified under an equivalent scheme. You also need a meter that records exports.
Is an installer who is MCS certified for solar PV also certified for wind?
Not automatically. MCS certification is granted technology by technology. Check that the installer's certificate covers small wind.
Can any small wind turbine be MCS certified?
No. The turbine model must hold MCS product certification, and the current installation standard is written for turbines on dedicated free-standing or guyed towers. Check the MCS product directory before you choose a turbine.
Does a wind turbine qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
No. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers heat pumps and biomass boilers. MCS certification matters for wind and solar PV because of the Smart Export Guarantee.
Does MCS certification include planning permission?
No. Planning permission and noise assessment are separate, and the rules differ across the UK nations. Always check with your local planning authority before installation.