MNRE Issues Revised Quality Control Order for Solar PV Products

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the revised Solar Systems, Devices, and Components Goods Order, 2025, superseding the earlier Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices, and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017.

The updated Quality Control Order (QCO, 2025), published in the Gazette of India on January 27, 2025, under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, will come into effect 180 days from the publication date.

This revised order aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, including solar PV modules, inverters, and storage batteries, aligning with the Government of India’s renewable energy goals.

The revision has been finalised after over two years of consultation with key stakeholders, including solar PV module manufacturers, inverter manufacturers, storage battery producers, testing laboratories, the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Additionally, feedback from World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries was sought through a 60-day consultation period on the WTO-TBT (Technical Barrier to Trade) website before the publication.

The primary objectives of the revised QCO are to ensure product reliability, enhance safety standards, and support India's ambitious renewable energy targets. The order introduces several mandatory standards for manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and sellers of solar PV systems and components. Notably, solar PV modules, inverters, and storage batteries must meet the latest Indian Standards as specified by BIS and bear the Standard Mark under a BIS license. This will be enforced through market surveillance by BIS or a BIS-appointed agency, in consultation with MNRE.

A key addition is the introduction of minimum efficiency criteria for solar PV modules. The new efficiency standards set at Standard Test Conditions are 18 percent for monocrystalline silicon and thin-film PV modules and 17 percent for polycrystalline silicon PV modules. These efficiency standards are expected to enhance the overall performance of solar systems, aligning with global technological advancements in solar energy.

The revised QCO also specifies that products meant solely for export are exempt from these requirements. Existing licenses under the QCO, 2017, remain valid, but new licenses and renewals will now adhere to the QCO, 2025. Penalties for non-compliance with the order will be enforced as per the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, ensuring accountability and the availability of high-quality solar products in India’s rapidly growing renewable energy market.

Furthermore, the revised QCO places significant emphasis on safety and testing protocols. Detailed testing and efficiency requirements are laid out for various PV technologies, including both crystalline silicon and thin-film modules. Additionally, rigorous safety measures for inverters and storage batteries have been specified to ensure that solar products meet global standards.

The order’s enforcement is expected to support the continued growth of India’s solar energy capacity, contributing to the country’s efforts to achieve its renewable energy targets, including the installation of 500 GW of non-fossil-based electricity generation capacity by 2030.