EV Accessories and Mounting
Final Extension Gives Installers Clear Guidance & Manufacturers Time to Align with the New Standard
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) has officially confirmed a final and decisive extension of the grace period for a specific group of solar mounting systems affected by the updated MCS 012 Issue 3.0 standard.
When the new version of the standard came into effect on 10 May 2025, several popular and widely used solar mounting kits lost their MCS certification. This created uncertainty among solar installers, wholesalers, and distributors who rely on MCS-approved products for compliant installations across the UK and Europe.
To address industry concerns, MCS launched an in-depth investigation into how Certification Bodies (CBs) were interpreting and applying the new standard. The goal was to ensure a consistent, transparent, and fair approach to testing and approval across all certification entities.
To prevent any supply-chain disruption during this review, MCS introduced an initial six-month grace period—allowing continued use of affected solar mounting products while the evaluation was underway. This proactive decision ensured that solar PV suppliers, EPCs, and professional installers could maintain project timelines without compromising compliance or safety.
Outcome & Next Steps
After concluding the review, MCS has now extended the grace period for an additional nine months, setting a new and final deadline of 10 August 2026.
This final extension ensures a smooth transition toward full alignment with the latest MCS 012 requirements and provides essential clarity for both manufacturers and certification bodies.
The new extension allows:
Certification Bodies and manufacturers to refine, test, and communicate their updated certification procedures under MCS 012, guaranteeing accuracy and transparency.
Stronger alignment across CBs in how solar mounting structures are verified, ensuring all products are tested consistently, regardless of brand or region.
Enhanced confidence for solar installers, wholesalers, and end-users, knowing that certified mounting kits meet uniform quality, durability, and safety standards.
More stable supply chains, giving solar distributors and PV system suppliers the ability to plan stock, deliveries, and complete kits with predictable certification timelines.
This extension reflects MCS’s ongoing commitment to maintaining quality, reliability, and consumer trust in the solar PV sector. It also demonstrates the organization’s understanding of the practical challenges faced by solar product manufacturers, system designers, and certified installers working under evolving technical standards.
As the solar industry continues to expand across Europe—driven by the rapid growth of solar panels, solar inverters, batteries, and energy storage solutions—clarity and consistency in certification remain vital for ensuring safety, efficiency, and long-term system performance.
What Installers Must Know
Until 10 August 2026, installers may continue to specify and install the affected solar mounting systems that were previously certified, provided they carry the designation “GRACE PERIOD” adjacent to the certification number in the MCS Product Directory, and show certification dates from 10/05/2025 – 10/08/2026.
After that date, all those listings will be automatically expired and will no longer appear as selectable options in the MCS Installations Database when raising a new MCS certificate. mcscertified.com
Verify Product Status Before Procurement
Several solar mounting kits already comply with the new MCS 012 Issue 3.0 standard. It is essential that installers, wholesalers and procurement teams check the status of each mounting product in the MCS Product Directory to confirm whether it is certified to the latest version or remains under the grace-period window.
MCS Key Takeaway:
You have until 10 August 2026 to deploy solar mounting products under the grace-period scheme — but you must check certification status, plan stock and installations accordingly, and transition to fully certified systems as soon as possible.
*Affected products include mounting systems from manufacturers such as Alumero Systematic Solutions GmbH, Clenergy Europe Ltd, K2 Mounting Systems Ltd, Solar Slate Plate Ltd, Wagner Renewables Ltd and Fastensol (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
We recommend sourcing only MCS-compliant mounting kits, confirming full certification traceability, and aligning procurement with these updated timelines.
If you have any further questions, please contact your sales manager at 3Buy Solar Info.
3Buy Solar continues to support this transition by supplying solar panels, inverters, batteries, and complete energy storage kits to professional installers and project developers, empowering communities to achieve long-term energy independence and measurable carbon reduction.
