DGFT Makes Registration Compulsory for Solar and Wind Component Imports

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has issued notification mandating compulsory registration on the newly introduced Renewable Energy Equipment Import Monitoring System (REEIMS) for selected solar and wind energy components. The notification, approved by the Minister of Commerce & Industry, will come into effect from November 1, 2025.

The new requirement applies to critical items under Chapters 70, 73, 84, and 85 of the ITC (HS) 2022 schedule, which are widely used in solar and wind power projects. For solar energy, components such as toughened safety glass, photovoltaic cells not assembled in modules, and photovoltaic modules themselves must now be registered on REEIMS prior to import.

Similarly, for wind energy, items including towers, bearing housings, gears and gearboxes, AC generators in the 2,000–15,000 kVA range, wind-powered generating sets, and various parts of electric motors are required to follow the same procedure.

The REEIMS registration must be submitted in advance of shipment, with a lead time of at least two days for air cargo and five days for sea and land shipments. Each registration will be valid for a period of three months and will be specific to a designated seaport, airport, or land port, although multiple consignments can be processed under a single registration. There is no registration fee, and importers must declare the intended end-use of the products on the REEIMS portal.

The import policy for these items has been amended from 'Free' to 'Free, subject to compulsory registration,' reflecting the government’s strategic move to monitor the inflow of critical renewable energy components.