MNRE Mandates Country-Coded Model Numbers for Solar Modules

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced a new model-number identification mechanism for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), requiring manufacturers to add a four-character country identifier to model numbers.

Under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the suffix will identify the countries where the module and the solar cells used in its bill of materials (BOM) are manufactured.

The four-character suffix will follow the format MMCC, with the first two characters representing the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code of the solar PV module manufacturing country and the next two characters representing the country code of the solar cell manufacturing country.

The country-coded suffix will form an integral part of the model number for BIS registration, certification and subsequent identification of the module.

Where a manufacturer has multiple BOM configurations under the same original model number and the solar cells are manufactured in different countries, separate model numbers will have to be created for each configuration. A single country-coded model number cannot cover BOMs containing solar cells manufactured in different countries.

MNRE has, however, allowed the use of solar cells from multiple manufacturers under a particular model if all the cell manufacturers are located in the same country and the approved BOM clearly identifies each manufacturer and the relevant cell details.

For models already registered with BIS, manufacturers will have to create corresponding additional model numbers carrying the four-character country identifier. The revised BOM must restrict or separate the solar cells according to the country identified by the final two characters of the suffix.

The SOP provides an exemption from fresh testing where the creation of the additional model number involves only deletion, restriction or separation of already-approved solar cells or cell variants from an existing BOM. This exemption applies provided there is no addition or modification involving the BOM, components, materials, manufacturing process or design.

In such cases, the original test report can be relied upon, subject to documentary verification of the revised BOM by the recognised test laboratory. The laboratory will then issue a supplementary test report referring to the original report.

No fresh testing fee will be charged for such supplementary reports in these cases, although applicable charges related to marking and documentation may apply. Following fulfilment of the requirements, BIS will issue a revised certificate or addendum incorporating the additional model numbers.

Manufacturers seeking inclusion of a new model will have to submit the original test reports, revised BOM, solar cell model number, details of the cell manufacturer and a declaration confirming that the cells covered by the model are manufactured in the country represented by the suffix.

Test laboratories will verify the module manufacturing location, solar cell manufacturing country and whether the revised BOM introduces any new component, material, design or manufacturing-process change that would require testing.

Where a new BOM is added, the applicable retesting and series-approval guidelines, along with the SOP for model-number identification, will apply.

Manufacturers of existing BIS-registered solar PV module models have 180 days from October 1, 2026 to submit the required applications and complete the BIS registration process for the country-coded model numbers.

After the 180-day period, all applications for registration, inclusion or addition of solar PV module models will have to comply with the new model-number mechanism. BIS will not process applications that do not meet the prescribed model-number and corresponding BOM requirements.

MNRE has also directed BIS and concerned test laboratories to incorporate the mechanism into their registration, inclusion, testing and certification procedures.

The complete country-coded model number approved by BIS will have to be used consistently on the product label and marking, test report, BIS certificate, module datasheet and other documents wherever the model number is required.