Following the government’s announcement of the Future Homes Standard, Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, commented:
“MCS welcomes the Future Homes Standard and the government’s commitment to the small-scale renewable energy industry and net-zero by ensuring solar panels and low-carbon heating systems will be installed on the majority of new homes in England from 2028. It builds on the strong momentum for small-scale renewables, which saw record numbers of certified installations for solar panels, battery storage, and heat pumps in 2025.
“With more than 100,000 certified renewable installations on new builds last year, it’s clear housebuilders already recognise the role of MCS certification in underpinning consumer confidence, complementing Building Regulations, and going beyond minimum compliance to improve real-world energy efficiency outcomes. As volumes continue to rise – further stimulated by the Future Homes Standard – certification will be central to the delivery of small-scale renewable installations and the continued growth of the market.
“Certification ensures the focus isn’t just about compliance but ensuring quality outcomes and strong protections for house buyers, while allowing them to get the most out of their technology. MCS certification is often a requirement for consumers to be able to access competitively priced energy tariffs, alongside the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) which provides payment for excess generated energy that is exported back to the grid.
“The Future Homes Standard is also a significant opportunity for installation businesses, with a higher demand for competent, reputable installers to deliver a growing number of installations into new builds. As MCS continues to roll out its redeveloped installer Scheme – which puts consumer protection and quality at the heart of what we do – certified installers will play a key role in helping to build long-lasting consumer confidence in home-grown energy.”
