MNRE Issues Guidelines for Series Approval of SPV Module Product Families

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued revised guidelines for series approval of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) modules to streamline testing and certification under the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025.

Issued by MNRE’s Standards and Quality Control Division, the revised framework aims to facilitate manufacturers and testing laboratories in forming product families for BIS registration, particularly where design, materials, or component configurations vary within a module series.

Under the new norms, a 'product family' is defined as a group of SPV modules sharing common design, construction, and essential components. To cover the full power range of a family, test laboratories will now test at least two modules each from the lowest, median, and highest power classes. Testing charges will apply only to these samples, while the test report may be extended to all other wattages within the family.

MNRE clarified that if the median power class does not exist, the next higher power class will be considered. Where power-class extensions occur within IEC TS 62915 limits, only label verification will be required. Modules with fewer cells will not require retesting provided there are no changes in design, materials, or manufacturing processes.

The guidelines also address efficiency requirements, stating that both the lowest and highest power modules in a family must meet the minimum efficiency criteria prescribed under the 2025 Quality Control Order for the entire family to qualify for licensing. Efficiency testing for median modules may be waived if they belong to the same product family and share identical module areas.

For solar luminaire applications, MNRE has temporarily excluded SPV modules with capacities ranging from 0.2 W to 20 W from the series approval framework. Modules up to 5 W used in solar lanterns will continue to be tested under IS 16476 (Part 1), while BIS is working on an appropriate standard for the 5–20 W category. These provisions will be incorporated in a revised Quality Control Order.

The revised guidelines also tighten marking requirements, mandating clear and indelible information laminated inside the module glass, including manufacturer details, model number, serial number, nominal wattage, year and country of origin, and module efficiency at standard test conditions. Test laboratories have been directed not to accept samples lacking the prescribed markings.

In cases involving changes in bill of materials or manufacturing processes, retesting will be mandatory in accordance with IS/IEC 62915:2023 to maintain certification.

MNRE stated that the revised guidelines will supersede the earlier series approval norms issued on August 13, 2025, and will be implemented alongside the latest BIS-notified Indian Standards, with transition periods to be decided by the Bureau of Indian Standards.