To check if a solar installer is MCS certified, go to mcscertified.com/find-an-installer, search by the company name or postcode, and confirm their certification is currently active — the whole thing takes about two minutes and should be done before you sign anything. If the installer doesn't appear, or their certification has lapsed, walk away.
This guide covers two separate checks: verifying an installer before you sign, and confirming your certificate after installation. Most guides muddle these together. This one keeps them apart, because they use different tools and matter at different moments.
What is MCS certification, and why does it matter for solar?
MCS — the Microgeneration Certification Scheme — is the UK's recognised quality mark for small-scale renewable energy installations, including solar panels, battery storage, and heat pumps. It certifies both the installer and the products they use, so a properly MCS-certified job means the company, the panels, and the inverter all meet a recognised standard.
The practical reason it matters to you as a homeowner comes down to money. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the technology and installer must be certified under MCS or an equivalent scheme for your installation to qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — the government-backed scheme that pays you for surplus electricity you export to the grid. Energy suppliers may also ask you to produce your MCS certificate before they'll open an SEG account.
MCS certification also matters because the scheme requires certified installers to give you access to a consumer code and dispute resolution process. If something goes wrong with a non-certified installer, that route simply doesn't exist.
It's worth being straight about one thing: MCS certification is not a legal requirement to install solar panels. But without it, you won't qualify for SEG payments, ECO4, or most other UK government incentives — and you may find it harder to sell your home later, because buyers' solicitors routinely ask for the paperwork.
How do I check if a solar installer is MCS certified before I sign?
Use the official MCS 'Find an Installer' tool at mcscertified.com/find-an-installer — it's free, public, and takes under two minutes. Here's what to do:
- Step 1 — Go to the register. Visit mcscertified.com/find-an-installer directly. Don't rely on a logo on a van or a certificate number someone emails you — check the live register yourself.
- Step 2 — Search by company name or postcode. Enter the exact trading name from your quote, or the installer's postcode. Both work.
- Step 3 — Confirm the technology scope. Check that their certification specifically covers Solar PV (MCS 001), not just heat pumps or another technology. An installer can hold MCS for one technology but not another — a heat pump specialist isn't automatically certified for solar.
- Step 4 — Check the status is active. If they appear in the results with an active status, they're currently certified. If they don't appear at all, or the status shows as lapsed or suspended, they are not currently certified to install solar under MCS.
- Step 5 — Note their certification number. Jot it down. A legitimate installer will have no objection to you mentioning it — if they seem put out that you checked, that's a red flag in itself.
If you can't find the company and want to double-check, the MCS helpdesk is available on 0333 103 8130.
One important nuance: MCS certification is held at company level, not by individual fitters. So it's the company name on your quote that you need to search for, not the name of the person turning up on the day.
It's also worth knowing that certification isn't a one-time event. MCS-certified installers are subject to regular audits — typically annually — and can lose their certification if they fail to maintain the standard. That's why checking the live register matters more than asking someone to show you a certificate they printed months ago.
How do I verify an MCS certificate after installation?
Once your panels are fitted, the installer must register the installation in the MCS Installations Database (MID) and provide you with your certificate within 10 working days of commissioning. That's a requirement of the MCS standards — not a courtesy.
To confirm your installation has been registered, you can search by address at certificate.microgenerationcertification.org. This is a separate tool from the 'Find an Installer' register — it covers completed installations rather than installer status.
If you can't find your installation, contact your installer first and ask them to confirm registration. If they're unresponsive, or if they've gone out of business, call the MCS helpdesk on 0333 103 8130 — they can check whether a certificate was ever raised for your address.
What should the certificate look like? It should include your address, the system details (panel make and model, inverter, system size in kWp), the installer's MCS certificate number, and the commissioning date. You'll need this document if you ever apply for an SEG tariff — your energy supplier may ask you to include it with your application.
What happens if my solar installer was not MCS certified?
The consequences are serious and financial. A solar installation completed by a non-certified installer generates electricity — but you will not be paid for any of it that you export. Without MCS, your installation cannot be registered for the Smart Export Guarantee, which is the government-backed scheme that pays you for surplus generation. There's no workaround for this: the requirement is non-negotiable.
Beyond SEG payments, the risks compound:
- Warranties. Many panel and inverter manufacturers require installation by a certified professional. A non-certified install can void manufacturer warranties, leaving you with no cover if equipment fails.
- Home insurance. Some insurers ask whether your solar installation is MCS certified when you update your policy. Critically, an installation cannot be certified retrospectively — so if it wasn't certified at the point of installation, it can't be made compliant afterwards.
- Selling your home. Buyers' solicitors will ask for installation documentation. If the MCS certificate is missing, you may need to commission an independent inspection report — at your expense — to satisfy the buyer's solicitor. That's additional cost and delay during conveyancing.
- No consumer code protection. MCS-certified installers must operate under a consumer code that includes a complaints and dispute resolution process. Without that, if something goes wrong, your routes for redress are limited to pursuing the installer directly.
This is one of the more avoidable mistakes in solar. A quote that looks cheaper because the installer isn't certified may end up costing far more once you factor in lost SEG income and the complications it creates.
For more on spotting the warning signs in a quote before it gets to this point, see our guide to Solar Quote Red Flags: Don't Get Ripped Off.
What about the products — do panels and inverters need to be MCS certified too?
Yes. Both the installer and the products they fit must be MCS certified for the installation to qualify for government incentives. This matters because an MCS-certified installer fitting non-MCS equipment is not automatically compliant — the certificate covers the whole job, not just the company. Ask your installer to confirm that the specific panels and inverter on your quote are listed on the MCS Product Directory. A reputable installer will know this without prompting.
A quick note on comparing quotes
Checking MCS status is one step — comparing what you're actually being quoted for is another. Quotes can look very similar on paper but differ significantly in panel quality, system sizing, and what's included in the warranty. Our guide to How to Compare Solar Quotes UK walks through exactly what to look for side by side, and our guide on Best Smart Export Guarantee Rates UK 2026 explains how to maximise what you earn once you're up and running.
Every installer FairSolar connects homeowners with is MCS certified — we only work with vetted, certified companies. If you'd like free, no-obligation quotes from MCS-certified local installers, use our free quote form and we'll do the matching for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a solar installer is MCS certified in the UK?
Go to mcscertified.com/find-an-installer, search by the company name or postcode, and confirm the certification is active and covers Solar PV (MCS 001). It takes under two minutes and should always be done before you sign a contract.
What happens if I use a solar installer who isn't MCS certified?
You won't be able to register for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which pays you for surplus electricity exported to the grid. You may also find manufacturer warranties are void, and you could face complications when selling your home, as buyers' solicitors routinely ask for MCS documentation.
How do I verify my MCS certificate after my solar panels have been installed?
Search by your address at certificate.microgenerationcertification.org — this is the MCS Installations Database (MID). Your installer is required to register your installation and hand over your certificate within 10 working days of commissioning. If it's not there, contact your installer first; if that fails, call the MCS helpdesk on 0333 103 8130.
Can an MCS certificate be issued after installation if my installer forgot?
An MCS installation cannot be certified retrospectively — it must be certified at the point of installation. If your installer was MCS certified but simply hasn't issued your paperwork yet, they can still provide it. But if the installer was not certified at the time, there is no route to obtaining a valid MCS certificate for that job.
Does MCS certification cover the solar panels themselves, or just the installer?
Both. For an installation to be MCS certified, the installer must hold current MCS certification for Solar PV and the products they use (panels, inverters) must be listed on the MCS Product Directory. An MCS-certified installer using uncertified products does not produce a compliant installation, so it's worth asking your installer to confirm both.