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Core Purpose

Supersedes 2017 order, mandates standard mark for solar systems, devices and components, and sets new efficiency criteria for licensing.

Detailed Summary

This Order, titled “Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025”, supersedes the 2017 order of similar name and mandates compulsory registration and use of the 'Standard Mark' under license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for specified solar systems, devices, and components. The BIS is designated as the certifying and enforcing authority, responsible for market surveillance to ensure conformity to Indian Standards. New minimum efficiency criteria for licensing are introduced, setting thresholds of 18% for Mono Crystalline Silicon and Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) modules, and 17% for Poly Crystalline Silicon PV modules, with efficiency calculation methods referenced to IS 14286 at STC. The order defines 'appropriate authority', grants power to issue directions for compliance, and specifies penalties for contravention under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. It comes into force 180 days after gazette publication.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-28012025-260524 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 488] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025/MAGAHA 7, 1946 MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY ORDER New Delhi, the 27th January, 2025 S.O. 492(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 16 read with section 17 and sub-section (3) of section 25 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016) and in supersession of the Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government after consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards, is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, hereby makes the following Order, namely:- 2. Short title and commencement- (1) This Order may be called the “Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025”. (2) It shall come into force on the expiry of one hundred and eighty days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. 3. Definitions- (1) In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires – (a) “Act” means the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016); (b) "appropriate authority” means any officer, not below the rank of Director or Scientist 'E' of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy or its sub-ordinate or attached offices, authorised by the Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India; (2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act and Regulations made thereunder, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act and Regulations. 4. Conformity to the standard and compulsory use of standard mark- Goods or article specified in column (2) of the Table below shall conform to the corresponding Indian Standard given in column (3) of the said Table and shall bear the ‘Standard Mark' under a licence from the Bureau as per the Scheme-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018: Provided that nothing in this Order shall apply to goods or article, as specified in column (2) of the said Table meant for export. 5. Certification and enforcement- In respect of the goods or article specified in column (2) of the said Table, the Bureau shall be the certifying and enforcing authority. The market surveillance to ensure the conformity to Indian Standard for goods or article bearing Standard Mark mentioned in column (2) of the Said Table shall be conducted by the Bureau or Agencies notified by the Bureau in consultation with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 6. Concurrent running with the Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017- This Order shall not affect the validity of the licence of existing goods or article having valid licence as per the provisions of Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017 and the fresh registration or grant of licence to use standards mark and renewal of registration after expiry of their respective validity period shall be done under the provisions of this Order. 7. Penalty for contravention- Any person who contravenes the provisions of this Order shall be punishable under the provisions of the said Act. 8. Power to issue directions- The appropriate authority may issue directions to any person engaged in the manufacture, import, distribution, sale, hire, lease, storage, or exhibit for sale of the goods or articles to give information as deemed necessary, for carrying out the purposes of this Order. 9. Compliance of directions- Every person to whom any direction is issued under this Order shall comply with such direction. 10. Grant of licence-For the purpose of grant of licence under this Order, a condition is introduced to set minimum efficiency (@ Standard Test Conditions i.e., STC) criteria, i.e., efficiency (@STC) of 18% for Mono Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) modules (Si wafer based) technology & Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules [Cd Te, a-Si, Cu(In, Ga)(S, Se)2] technology and efficiency (@STC) of 17% for Poly Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) modules (Si wafer based) technology. The efficiency (@ STC in %) of Solar PV module shall be calculated as “ratio of maximum PV output of the module to the Area of the front surface of a photovoltaic module as defined by its outer edges (in m2) and 1000 i.e., Efficiency (@ STC in %) = [Pmax (in Watt)/{1000×A (in m²)}] ×100.” The maximum PV output and area of the module shall be referred as calculated in IS 14286 at STC. Table +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | S. | Goods or articles | Indian Standard | Title of Indian Standard | | No. | | | | +=====+==========================================================+=============================+======================================================================================================================================================================+ | (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1. | Crystalline | IS 14286 (Part 1): | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design | | | Silicon Terrestrial | 2023/ IEC 61215-1 | Qualification and Type Approval Part 1 Test | | | Photovoltaic (PV) | : 2021 | Requirements | | | modules | IS 14286 (Part | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design | | | (Si wafer based) | 1/Sec 1) : 2023/ IEC | Qualification and Type Approval: Part 1 Test | | | | 61215-1-1: 2021 | Requirements: Sec 1 Special requirements for | | | | | testing of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) | | | | | modules. | | | | IS/IEC 61730-1: 2016 | Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification | | | | | Part 1 Requirements for Construction | | | | IS/IEC 61730-2 : 2016 | Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification | | | | | Part 2 Requirements for Testing | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. | Thin-Film | IS 14286 (Part 1): | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design | | | Terrestrial | 2023/ IEC 61215-1 | qualification and type approval: Part 1 test | | | Photovoltaic (PV) | : 2021 | requirements. | | | Modules [CdTe, | IS 14286 (Part | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design | | | a-Si, | 1/Sec 2): 2023/ IEC | Qualification and Type Approval | | | Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2]| 61215-1-2: 2021 + Part 1 Test Requirements Section 2 Special | | | | | Amd-1:2022 | requirements for testing of thin-film cadmium | | | | | telluride (CdTe) based photovoltaic (PV) | | | | | modules | | | | IS 14286 (Part | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design | | | | 1/Sec 3 ) : 2023/ | Qualification and Type Approval | | | | IEC 61215-1-3 : | Part 1 Test Requirements Section 3 Special | | | | 2021 + Amd-1:2022 | requirements for testing of thin-film amorphous | | | | | silicon based photovoltaic(PV) modules | | | | IS 14286 (Part | Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules - Design | | | | 1/Sec 4): 2023/ IEC | Qualification and Type Approval Part 1 Test | | | | 61215-1-4: 2021 + Requirements Section 4 Special requirements for | | | | | Amd-1:2022 | testing of thin-film Cu (In,Ga)(S,Se)2 based | | | | | photovoltaic (PV) modules | | | | IS/IEC 61730-1: 2016 | Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification | | | | | Part 1 Requirements for Construction | | | | IS/IEC 61730-2: 2016 | Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification | | | | | Part 2 Requirements for Testing | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 3. | Storage Battery | IS 16270: 2023 | Secondary Cells and Batteries for Solar | | | | | Photovoltaic Application - General | | | | | Requirements and Methods of Test | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 4. | Power inverters | IS 16221 (Part 2): | Safety of Power Converters for Use in | | | for use in | 2015/ IEC 62109-2: | Photovoltaic Power Systems Part 2 Particular | | | photovoltaic | 2011 | Requirements for Inverters | | | power system | IS/IEC 61683: 1999 | Photovoltaic systems - Power conditioners - | | | | | Procedure for measuring efficiency | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 5. | Utility- | IS 16221 (Part 2): | Safety of Power Converters for Use in | | | Interconnected | 2015/ IEC 62109-2: | Photovoltaic Power Systems Part 2 Particular | | | Photovoltaic | 2011 | Requirements for Inverters | | | Inverters | IS 16169: 2019/ | Test Procedure of Islanding Prevention Measures | | | | IEC 62116: 2014 | for Utility-Interconnected Photovoltaic Inverters. | | | | IS 17980: 2022/IEC | Maximum Power Point Tracking Efficiency of | | | | 62891:2020 | Grid Connected Photovoltaic Inverters | +-----+----------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Note: For the purpose of the Table, the latest version of Indian Standard including the amendments issued thereof and notified by the Bureau from time to time, shall apply from the date of such notification. [F.No. 313-12/5/2022-S AND QC] Dr A. K. TRIPATHI, Adviser/Scientist-G

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