MCS opened a consultation on 13 October 2026 on a draft Battery Storage Product Standard, MCS 042, and is inviting comments from stakeholders until 11:59pm on Tuesday 10 November 20261. Responses are to be sent to consultations@mcscertified.com using the forms provided1.
The draft has been developed by MCS's Battery Storage Technical Working Group, which MCS describes as made up of industry experts including installers, manufacturers, trade associations, and certification bodies1. MCS says the standard is being created to sit alongside the existing Installation Standard, and that it "will reinforce confidence in the quality of products used by MCS certified installers"1.
"Battery storage is the newest technology to MCS, brought into scope of the installer Scheme in 2021."
MCS states that battery storage is now its fastest growing certified technology, with more than 60,000 installed in UK homes and small businesses in 2026 as of the end of September, already surpassing last year's record-breaking total by over 50%1.
The consultation covers the draft standard itself and a response form, both published by MCS1. MCS has not reported which products, tests or performance criteria the draft sets out, nor how the standard would be enforced once finalised; those details are not in the announcement1.
Why it matters for households
Battery storage lets a home store electricity, often from rooftop solar, for use later rather than exporting it immediately, so the equipment's quality and safety bear directly on how much a household can rely on its own supply. A product standard sitting alongside the existing installation standard would apply to the hardware that MCS certified installers fit, rather than to the workmanship of the fitting itself1. For households weighing storage, the practical effect would be a defined benchmark for products used under the scheme, though the draft's contents and any requirements it places on manufacturers have not been reported1. The regulation and policy hub covers how standards and scheme rules develop, and the installers and retailers hub covers the certified installer route.
What happens next
After the consultation closes on 10 November 2026, MCS says it will review all feedback, finalise the standard with the Battery Storage Technical Working Group, and publish it1. MCS describes this as the first step in the process and says it will continue to provide updates as it progresses towards fully implementing the Battery Storage Product Standard into the Scheme1. No date has been given for publication or implementation1.