The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken a significant step to ensure the authenticity of domestic solar products used in government-funded schemes. It has decided to make data entry mandatory and is requiring verification of solar PV modules. These requirements were published through an Office Memorandum (OM) dated November 11, 2024.
The Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) policy aims to promote the domestic solar manufacturing industry by mandating a minimum level of local content in solar panels used in government projects. However, concerns were raised about the potential for non-compliant products entering the market.
It may be recalled that MNRE had mandated the registration of solar panels on a dedicated portal to verify their compliance with DCR standards. This was indicated through an OM dated August 7, 2024.
The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) operates a portal where manufacturers must register their facilities and upload data on all solar panels produced since January 1, 2024.
Henceforth, any solar panel not registered or failing DCR verification on the portal, starting from December 1st, 2024, will be ineligible for use in MNRE’s solar schemes like:
- CPSU Scheme Phase-II,
- PM Surya Garu: Muft Bijli Yojana, and
- PM-KUSUM
Manufacturers failing to comply may have to face actions / penalties for violation of DCR provisions.
This new system will ensure transparency and accountability within the solar industry, promoting the use of genuine, domestically produced solar panels.
