Guidelines issued for enlistment of approved PV models and manufacturers

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued guidelines for enlistment of approved models and manufacturers of solar PV modules compliant with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. Effective from March 31, 2020, the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) will have separate sections for PV cells and modules.

As per the guidelines, before inclusion in the ALMM List, a team of MNRE or any agency authorised for this purpose will inspect the manufacturing facility of the applicant whose models have been registered/certified by BIS as per the Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017.

During the inspection, the team will examine the production and sale records of the applicant company to ensure that the solar cells and modules being supplied are indeed made in the unit. The inspection team will also ascertain, as far as possible, that there are no contractual violations, by the applicant, in supply of solar PV cells/modules.

Implementation support agency

National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous body under MNRE and the apex solar R&D institute, will carry out inspections, verifications and quality checks on behalf of MNRE.

The inspection team may comprise officials from NISE, MNRE and any other agency as required from time to time.

In case NISE lab facilities were used for the testing of modules, as required under BIS, then in order to avoid any conflict of interest, the inspection team for such modules under ALMM Order, may not have officials from NISE.

Inspection fee

For units situated in SAARC (South Asian Association Regional Cooperating) countries, the inspection fee is Rs 5 lakh for manufacturing capacity of up to 100 MW, and Rs 10-15 lakh for capacity of more than 100 MW and up to 250 MW. For units situated in non-SAARC countries, the inspection fee is flat Rs 30 lakh for all manufacturing capacities.

In case the applicant has multiple manufacturing sites, or the applicant is sourcing finished cells/modules from some other manufacturers and selling the same under his own brand name,  all the manufacturing sites including the applicant’s own manufacturing sites shall be subjected to inspection.

For getting each additional manufacturing site inspected, the applicants will pay 50% of the applicable inspection fee. However, in case the additional sites are in different countries, there will be no concession on inspection fee for all such sites.