MNRE Invites Stakeholders Outlook on BIS Standards for Solar Pumps

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced that it has releaesed a memorandum requesting for observation of stakeholders on the BIS standards for solar PV water pumping systems.

Previously, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) had requested the MNRE to arrange a meeting of the sub-committee constituted for formulating the standards for solar PV water pumping systems. During the discussion, it was felt that the outlook of stakeholders may be invited for the ultimate BIS standards.

The comments are invited on the subsequent documents –

• Specifications of solar PV water pumping systems (centrifugal pumps)
• Draft specification of solar PV water pumping systems for positive displacement pumps
• Draft testing procedure guidelines for solar PV water pumping systems

In March 2018, the government of India had announced that it would commence the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) program with an endeavor to solarize the agricultural sector using solar-powered water pumps and provide solar-powered electricity to rural areas.

In a fresh report, the government also said that it plans to increase the number of installed solar pumps by 10 times and set up 75 million off- grid solar pumps by 2022 under the KUSUM scheme.  It is expected to attract a considerable interest from the private sector to develop models in the solar pump segment. Therefore, a BIS standard for the solar PV water pumping systems will keep away the poor-quality pumps flooding the market.

Lately, the MNRE extended the time limit for BIS certification of solar inverters by six months. The new deadline is June 30, 2019.