TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd has expanded its accreditation as an MCS product certification body to cover a wider range of technologies, MCS announced on 11 November 2025. In addition to solar PV, the body now offers product certification for heat pumps, BIPV (building-integrated solar PV), solar heating and solar mounting systems1.
The company first achieved MCS accreditation in August 2023 for solar PV products, becoming the first MCS product certification body outside of Europe1. MCS said the expansion increases the availability of small-scale renewable products in the UK and gives manufacturers more choice when certifying products1.
| Technology covered | Status |
|---|---|
| Solar PV | Certified since August 2023 |
| Heat pumps | Added in the expansion |
| BIPV (building-integrated solar PV) | Added in the expansion |
| Solar heating | Added in the expansion |
| Solar mounting systems | Added in the expansion |
Ian Rippin, chief executive of MCS, said the scheme's role is to certify products and installers, and that certification bodies such as TÜV Rheinland underpin quality and compliance in a growing market1.
"The demand for home-grown energy in the UK has never been greater, with 2025 now officially the best year in MCS history for certified installations."
Matthias Grzam, Head of Product Certification at TÜV Rheinland (China), said rising energy costs and climate change highlight the need for low-carbon technologies in the UK's energy future, and that the expanded services cover solar heating, solar mounting, building-integrated solar PV and heat pump products1.
Why it matters for households
MCS certification is the route by which small-scale renewable products and the installers who fit them are assessed against recognised standards. For a household, the practical effect of a wider field of certification bodies is that more products can enter the UK certified pool, which bears on the range of equipment an installer can offer and on the paperwork that supports warranty, insurance and any grant or incentive scheme that requires certified products and installers1.
The technologies named in the expansion map onto distinct parts of a home's energy setup. Heat pumps cover both air-to-water systems that feed radiators and hot water and air-to-air systems that heat rooms directly, with performance depending heavily on flow temperature. Building-integrated solar PV sits within the roof-integrated solar category, where panels or tiles form part of the roof covering rather than sitting on top of it. Solar mounting systems are the frames and fixings that hold panels to a roof, a category that includes Schletter and other roof mounting suppliers. Solar heating covers thermal collectors that heat water rather than generate electricity.
Certification is separate from installation quality, and the announcement does not name any product, manufacturer or installer that has been certified under the expanded scope. MCS has not reported which products have been certified so far, nor how many manufacturers have applied.
What happens next
No timetable for further expansion, and no list of products certified under the new scope, has been reported. Households checking whether a specific product or installer is certified can use the MCS product directory and installer search, and the wider regulation and policy picture for small-scale renewables remains as previously reported.