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The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) has launched a consultation on its new certification for battery energy storage systems.
The consultation is to last a month, closing to responses on 23 August at 5:00pm.
The MCS first announced it was to launch a certification scheme for storage in February of this year.
The proposed standard specifies requirements for MCS contractors undertaking the supply, design, installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of electrical energy storage systems for permanent buildings with a maximum power output of up to 50kW.
The standard outlines requirements for certified contractors – for example into capability and quality management - design and installation, system performance estimates, roles and competency and handover.
It also details the process of determining the performance of a storage system in a building with solar PV and/or electric vehicles.
Requirements for data and communication are also listed, including the requirement for systems to be capable of communicating via an open protocol which enables control of charge and discharge by the customer and third parties authorised by the consumer. This should be dynamically in real time in response to tariff information through communication with a smart meter.
When the new scheme was first announced, chief executive of the MCS Ian Rippin said it would be a “natural extension” to the existing MCS scheme and represents a “one-stop solution”.
The new standard is to be used alongside the existing MCS 001 scheme document as well as “any other guidance and/or supplementary material” on its website, the MCS said.
The full document can be read here.