The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for Photovoltaic Modules (MCS 005) is a UK based certification scheme for manufacturers and importers wishing to demonstrate compliance to a defined product standard.

Installers, Specifiers, and end users of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems must use an MCS certified product on all Photovoltaic system installations intended to be MCS compliant.

On the 10th October 2018, the MCS Photovoltaic Module scheme document (MCS 005) was reissued to Issue 3.0. Amongst the changes was the inclusion of the new BS EN 61215 test standards:

BS EN 61215-1:2016
BS EN 61215-1-1:2016
BS EN 61215-1-2:2017
BS EN 61215-1-3:2017
BS EN 61215-1-4:2017
BS EN 61215-2:2017

Manufacturers and importers of Photovoltaic Modules wishing to certify new products to the requirements of MCS 005 from the 11th October 2020 must use the new test standards above.

In order to maintain existing certificates, certificate holders whose products are certified using earlier versions of the test standards BS EN 61215 (crystalline PV modules) and BS EN 61646 (thin film PV modules) are required to have their products reassessed using the new editions of the BS EN standards by the 11th October 2020.

Due to the expected demand for reassessments, and to avoid any period of certificate suspension, please contact the BBA as soon as possible. It is advised that you contact the BBA no less than nine months prior to the mandatory date of implementation (January 2020).

Please send all enquiries to clientservices@bbacerts.co.uk