A fully-fledged quality mark scheme has been established to give consumers confidence in the standards they can expect from green energy products and installers.

Building on a two year development phase, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has approved plans to open up the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to a number of certification providers to give the industry more options when seeking approval for products and services.

Plans have also been approved to appoint a new administrator for the MCS. The initial two year contract with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) comes to an end this September.

The MCS aims to build a sustainable microgeneration industry based on quality and reliability, to provide consumer confidence that products and installers meet, and continue to meet, robust standards.

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Nearly 450 installer companies and over 30 product manufacturers have already registered under the development phase of the scheme. Certification gives companies permission to display the MCS logo to promote services or on their microgeneration products. It will be important for the industry to have wider access to certification providers as the sector develops significantly in response to the UK's ambitious green energy programme.

Organisations will also be able to register as a certification body, alongside BRE Global Ltd.

Mr Wicks said: "The Microgeneration Certification Scheme has made good progress over the past two years. It is important the vital work carried out by the Building Research Establishment and industry led steering group is continued under a new administrator.

"I look forward to other certification bodies joining the MCS to deliver reliable installations for microgenerators across the UK.

"Households, businesses and communities can play an important role in reducing carbon emissions by generating their own electricity or heat from renewable energy sources. It is important consumers can rely on the MCS to oversee this is done responsibly and effectively."

(CD/JM)