MNRE Issues Extension of Deadline for Self-Certification of Solar Inverters

The solar inverter manufacturers need to get valid IEC certificates and reports from accredited laboratories of their solar inverters by June 30.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced that it has extended the deadline for the solar inverter makers to get valid International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certificates and test reports from accredited test laboratories of their solar inverters. ­­­­­­Apparently, the new deadline is June 30, 2023.

Initially, the ministry had extended the self-certification of solar photovoltaic inverters under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from June 30, 2022, to December 31, 2022. The government had issued ‘Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017’ for six products included in the schedule on September 5, 2017. However, the deadline has been extended several times.

In its announcement, the ministry has cleared that considering the issues relating to testing, and the level of preparation of test labs, the industry had sought more time for compliance, and therefore it has extended the deadline again.

Energetica India interacted with a few companies to know their thoughts and opinions.

A Positive Step to Keep the Momentum of the Market …

Mr. Vipin Bhardwaj, Country Manager, SolaX Power

“This move to extend the deadline has been made to provide more time for manufacturers to comply with the BIS regulations for quality control, safety standards, and testing of solar inverters. The decision of the government to extend the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters can be seen as a positive step to keep the momentum of the market and customer to adopt solar as the source of energy.”

Q What are your views on the government’s recent decision for the extension of the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters?

Vipin Bhardwaj: As a leading solar inverter manufacturer, we at SolaX are committed to providing safe and reliable solar inverters in the Indian market; hence, our inverter is complying with BIS. This move to extend the deadline from the Indian government has been made to provide more time for manufacturers to comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulations for quality control, safety standards, and testing of solar inverters. Overall, the decision to extend the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters can be seen as a positive step to keep the momentum of the market and customer to adopt solar as the source of energy.

Q Can you elaborate on the present scenario of solar inverters in the country? What is the scope of such inverters for the future?

Vipin Bhardwaj: At present, on-grid inverters account for the majority of the PV inverter market in India and as the cost of solar panels continues to decline, the demand for solar inverters is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.

Seeing the advancement of technology in the Indian market, SolaX Power has developed grid-tied inverters covering a wide power range of 0.6-150kW with a variety of smart features, which can meet the needs of different Segment, either for residential or C&I applications. 

Q As a solar inverter manufacturer, what challenges do you face towards the implementation of solar inverters, particularly on acceptance by the industry? What could be the possible solutions to mitigate the challenges?

Vipin Bhardwaj: One significant challenge is the lack of awareness about the benefits of solar inverter's features. Many potential prosumers (end users) are still unaware of the advantage they can have by using smart and feature-loaded solar inverters. To overcome this challenge, SolaX has held some targeted marketing campaigns and educational programs that highlight the benefits of features and environmental benefits to adopt solar power source.

Q What role would the solar inverter segment play in achieving the ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030?

Vipin Bhardwaj: Currently, solar capacity in India accounts for the largest share of all renewable energy capacity. This shows that solar energy will play the most important role on the path to achieving renewable energy goals. And solar inverters, as an essential part of harnessing solar energy, will undoubtedly play a vital part as well.

As one of the world’s leading inverter manufacturers, SolaX Power has over 10 years of experience in the solar industry and four R&D sites, providing PV solutions to customers in over 80 countries worldwide. By working closely with local partners, SolaX is confident that we can make a significant contribution to achieving India's energy goals.
 

Solar Market to Boom Due to Policy Changes…

Mr. Harendra Tomar, Leader - Business Development, Sungrow India Pvt. Ltd.

“With the policy changes like exemption in ALMM for one year, the solar market in India is expected to boom. The higher rating inverters still have limitations for testing by labs for rating capacity above 200 kW and voltage of above 1000 Vdc; hence, the extension of the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters by MNRE is welcome step.”

Q What are your views on the government’s recent decision for the extension of the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters?

Harendra Tomar: Sungrow inverters are tested and certified in accordance with the prevailing IEC standards. Also, Sungrow inverters have already done BIS registration after testing inverters from BIS recognised labs for the rating capacity of inverters, which can be tested and labs having testing capabilities. However, the higher rating inverters still have limitations for testing by labs for rating capacity above 200 kW and voltage of above 1000 Vdc. In view of this, the extension by MNRE is a welcome step.

Q Can you elaborate on the present scenario of solar inverters in the country? What is the scope of such inverters for the future?

Harendra Tomar: The solar market in India is expected to boom due to policy changes like exemption in ALMM for one year. The government is focusing more on the residential segment by launching a solar portal for ease of use and mass adoption. The C&I segment has also shown good growth in the last year and is expected to further grow in 2023. It is expected to see 30-40 percent extra capacity addition while comparing to last year's addition. All these indicators are making good business perspectives for solar inverters in the growing solar market.

Sungrow is well prepared to cater to the market demand either by tech innovation in products or by reducing LCOE generation in all segments of solar development i.e. residential, C&I, and utility-scale.

Q As a solar inverter manufacturer, what challenges do you face towards the implementation of solar inverters, particularly on acceptance by the industry? What could be the possible solutions to mitigate the challenges?

Harendra Tomar: We feel the solar market has matured in India. The developers and EPCs are well equipped to select the product, which best suits their project in terms of techno-commercial aspects. The challenges we can say always comes with the option of improvements. However, the selection of the inverter based on the commercial is still the main criterion for some of the developers and EPC companies. To overcome this, Sungrow is always thriving to offer quality products with regular improvement.

Recently, Sungrow has introduced a new highest capacity string inverter of 320kW and 1+X series central inverter into the market for the utility segment based on a modular design with a special set of features that would appeal to the growing market. Also, after-sales service is the backbone of any company to get back-to-back orders for such products and Sungrow is expanding in terms of service network, repair centers and manpower as the deployment increases.  

Q What role would the solar inverter segment play in achieving the ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030?

Harendra Tomar: The 450 GW of renewable energy target includes 280 GW of the solar target. These are optimistic targets as we have seen that around 12-13 GW yearly of solar addition have been done in the past years.

However, we always work towards achieving these targets with the support of consistent RE policies and the enthusiasm we are seeing from the industry stakeholders. It is a well-known fact that solar inverter is the heart of any solar plant and innovation in product development through feedback from the end users are the key to improving and remaining viable in the market. Sungrow always tries to offer quality and innovative products for long-term sustainable growth.
 

A Positive Move Prioritising Safety and Quality…

Mr. Honey Raza, Head – Sales India, Ginlong (Solis) Technologies

“The MNRE's decision to extend the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters is a positive move that prioritises safety and quality and is in line with India's commitment to achieving its renewable energy targets. However, the limited availability of testing infrastructure in India is causing challenges for manufacturers to obtain BIS certification for their solar inverters.”

Q: What are your views on the government’s recent decision forextension of the deadline for self-certification of solar Inverters?

Honey Raza:  It is important to note that the self-certification process plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and sustainability of solar power, which is rapidly growing in India. The extension of the deadline provides an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the self-certification process and meet the necessary requirements, which will ultimately lead to a more robust and resilient solar power sector in the country.

Overall, the MNRE's decision to extend the deadline for self-certification of solar inverters is a positive move that prioritizes safety and quality and is in line with India's commitment to achieving its renewable energy targets.

However, the limited availability of testing infrastructure in India is causing challenges for manufacturers to obtain BIS certification for their solar inverters, creating hurdles in importing materials and meeting the country's demand for solar power. The MNRE should take immediate action by investing in and expanding testing infrastructure and working with stakeholders to streamline the certification process.

Q: Can you elaborate on the present scenario of solar inverters in the country? What is the scope of such inverters for future?

Honey Raza: Despite the various regulatory, policy and supply chain challenges, the scope for solar inverters in the country is immense. With the Indian government's focus on renewable energy, there is a significant push to increase the use of solar power in the country. The solar inverter market is expected to grow at a significant rate in the coming years, driven by factors such as increasing demand for clean energy, and achieving the target of 450 GW by 2030.

Moreover, advancements in technology, such as the integration of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), are expected to drive the growth of the solar inverter market in India. The integration of these technologies can enable better monitoring and control of solar power systems, leading to increased efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.

Solis is driving the market by introducing the new S5 series that would enable customers to use higher capacity modules even with small-size inverters along with the latest features of I-V curve scanning, string monitoring and anti-PID.

Q: As a solar inverter manufacturer, what challenges do you face towards implementation of solar inverters, particularly on acceptance by the industry? What could be the possible solutions to mitigate the challenges?

Honey Raza: The Indian market has shown considerable awareness and understanding of the various solar inverter technologies available. However, as a manufacturer, we are currently facing challenges due to disruptions in the global supply chain, specifically with key components like semiconductors, which are essential to the production of power electronic devices. These challenges have impacted our ability to produce solar inverters efficiently and cost-effectively and may require collaboration and solutions at the global level.

In addition to the semiconductor crisis, manufacturers in India are also facing challenges due to a lack of clarity surrounding policies such as the BIS and other hurdles in setting up manufacturing facility in the country. This has led to confusion and delays, making it difficult for manufacturers to comply with the regulations and hampering their ability to operate effectively.

The semiconductor industry is global in nature, and disruptions in the supply chain can impact manufacturers worldwide. It is essential for all countries to collaborate and engage in discussions to find solutions to the ongoing semiconductor crisis.

To address the policy challenges, it is important for the government to engage with manufacturers and other stakeholders to provide greater clarity and transparency regarding the different policies. By working together, manufacturers can overcome these challenges and continue to innovate and provide valuable products to the Indian market.

Q: What role would the solar inverter segment play in achieving the ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030?

Honey Raza: The solar inverter segment will play a critical role in achieving India's ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW by 2030. As the backbone of solar power systems, inverters are responsible for converting the DC power generated by solar panels into usable AC power for the grid.

With the increasing deployment of solar power systems across India, the demand for high-quality and efficient solar inverters is expected to grow rapidly. Solar inverters will need to be designed to support larger-capacity solar power plants and be capable of operating under a variety of environmental conditions.

The solar inverter segment also has a vital role to play in the integration of renewable energy into the grid. As renewable energy sources are inherently intermittent, solar inverters must be equipped with advanced features like energy storage and grid-tied capabilities to ensure reliable and stable power supply to the grid.

Complying with these requirements we at Solis, have already integrated our inverters with the latest grid requirements as suggested by CEA.

By providing efficient and reliable solar inverters, manufacturers can help accelerate the deployment of solar power systems across India, supporting the country's goal of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. With the support of the solar inverter segment, India can transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
 

Such MNRE Efforts are Necessary and Appreciated…

Mr. Divya Prakash Choraria, CEO, Wattpower Systems Pvt. Ltd.

“The solar inverter segment plays an extremely critical role in achieving the 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. With the ambitious target of renewable energy penetration, solar inverters will play a pivotal role in grid-supporting. As more solar systems are added to the grid, more inverters are being connected to the grid than ever before.”

Q What are your views on the government’s recent decision for extension of the deadline for self-certification of solar Inverters?
 
Divya Prakash Choraria: So far, the Government has extended the self-certification for solar photovoltaic inverters several times, mainly because of the low availability of test facilities. We appreciate the fact that the MNRE is providing ample time to the manufacturers, given the growth pace of the Solar Industry.
 
The new process requires certification for new upgraded models as well as older redundant models. This makes the new certification process both time-consuming and cost-intensive. On the other hand, since any change in the design and material of solar inverters would have to undergo a fresh round of testing, this process would prove very effective in implementing quality control in the inverter business.
 
All in all, it’s a mixed bag, and we are trying to gain more clarity on the matter.
 
Q Can you elaborate on the present scenario of solar inverters in the country? What is the scope of such inverters for the future?
 
Divya Prakash Choraria: The Indian Solar Industry is expected to enter an unprecedented boom phase. The solar inverter market is set to grow at a CAGR of over 30 percent over the next six years. A rapid growth in solar power plants across the world would boost the market growth in India as well. With more and more solar power plants joining the grid, the demand for on-grid solar inverters is also projected to grow proportionately.
 
A levelled cost of energy is rapidly becoming the key factor for choosing components, making string inverters an ideal contender for rapid market growth. With the penetration of renewable energy, the need for grid-supporting and grid-forming inverters is also quite evident. A high demand for high-power and reliable equipment in PV plants will be another key future trend.
 
In a PV plant, 70 percent of faults are caused by the DC side. Therefore, there will be a growing need for inverters to support smart string disconnection and automatic connector detection. PV systems face various risks, such as equipment safety risks due to faults and shut-downs, and information security risks due to external network attacks. To cope with these threats, organisations need to establish a complete set of ‘security and trustworthiness’ management mechanisms, including the reliability, availability, security, and resilience of systems and devices.
 
Furthermore, as the energy industry moves towards the data-age, the ability to efficiently collect, utilize, and maximize the value of data has become one of the top concerns of the entire industry. AI technologies can be widely applied to renewable energy fields, and play an indispensable role in the entire lifecycle of PV, including manufacturing, construction, O&M, optimization, and operation.
 
Q As a solar inverter manufacturer, what challenges do you face towards implementation of solar inverters, particularly on acceptance by the industry? What could be the possible solutions to mitigate the challenges?
 
Divya Prakash Choraria: Since we are carrying forward the global legacy and technical superiority of FusionSolar technology, we feel the challenges are well behind us. The technology is well-proven at a global scale globally and has been at the forefront of the industry. With more than 12 GW of installed capacity in India, FusionSolar seems to have the maximum market share in the utility segment. A large number of installations are more than five years old.

The reliability of the product and a strong after-sales service has helped us in retaining our position not just globally, but in India too. One major challenge the solar inverter industry faces today, is to manage the supply chain of raw materials. So, strong value chain management would play a pivotal role.

Acknowledging the steep growth and evolving requirements of the Indian solar industry, WattPower- with support from FusionSolar, is committed to support the market requirement with utmost agility.

Q What role would the solar inverter segment play in achieving the ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030?

Divya Prakash Choraria: The solar inverter segment is poised to play an extremely critical role in achieving the set target- 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. With such an ambitious target for renewable energy penetration, solar inverters will play a pivotal role in grid-supporting.

Inverter-based generation can produce energy at any frequency and does not have the same inertial properties as steam-based generation, because no turbines are involved. As a result, transitioning to an electrical grid with more inverters requires building smarter inverters that can respond to changes in frequency and other disruptions during grid operations, and help stabilise the grid.

- Energetica India Magazine