India Approves Quality Control Policy For PV

• MNRE in India has approved an order that makes it compulsory for PV manufacturers to comply with Indian quality standards
• They will now have to obtain registration from the Bureau of Indian Standards to be able to use standard mark for their products
• It will be applicable to all PV systems, devices and components produced in the country for internal consumption
• Post one year of its publication in the official gazette, the order will come into force

The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved an order putting in place quality standards for PV modules in India. It will come into force after one year of its publication in the official gazette.

The order is titled Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017. Under theis new order, all manufacturers of PV modules will have to obtain registration from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to be able to use a standard mark in respect of the Indian standard.

There will be different Indian Standard numbers given to solar products that have been classified into six categories. These are Si-wafer based crystaline silicon terrestrial PV modules, a-Si, CIGS and CdTe thin-film, terrestrial PV modules, Si wafer and thin film based PV modules, power converters, utility-interconnected PV inverters, and storage batteries.

The order states, "Provided that nothing in this Order shall apply in relation to manufacture of Goods meant for export."

Details about India's new solar quality control policy can be viewed on MNRE website.

In August 2016, MNRE had issued draft regulation for PV product quality checks (see New Indian Quality Regulation For PV Equipment).