MNRE issues guidelines for approval of solar PV modules

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released guidelines and FAQs to standardise the approval process for solar photovoltaic (SPV) modules under the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025.

Published on August 13, 2025, the document outlines the procedure for defining product families, testing protocols, and marking rules for modules. A product family will be based on the maximum configuration of parts and assemblies, with at least two modules from each of the lower, middle, and higher power classes to be tested. The module with the highest capacity in a family will serve as the lead unit for testing.

For compliance, modules tested from the lowest, middle, and highest power classes must achieve the efficiency levels required in the Quality Control Order (QCO). Each module must display permanent markings laminated inside the glass, showing the manufacturer’s name, model, serial number, wattage, year and country of origin, and efficiency under standard test conditions. A tolerance of plus or minus 3 per cent is allowed.

Any change in the bill of materials or process adjustments will trigger retesting under IS/IEC 62915:2023. Small modules in the 0.2 to 20 W range, used in lanterns and luminaries, have been kept outside the scope until specific standards are notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The FAQs provide clarifications on sample requirements and testing methods. For IS 14286:2023, 12 modules are required, while IS/IEC 61730-2 testing calls for at least 10 framed and two unframed modules. Guidance has also been given on measuring hysteresis loss in high-capacitance modules and on testing across power bins.

Manufacturers who submitted modules under IS/IEC 61730:2016 before the new guidelines were issued will still qualify for BIS certification once reports are available. Future renewals will have to follow the updated standards.

The guidelines are intended to bring consistency in testing and certification of solar PV modules.

Access the guideline here and the FAQs here.