No.5/23/2009-P&C Government of India Ministry of New and renewable Energy SPV Group Minutes of Meeting held on 3.2.

2011 to discuss the standards for components of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Systems and Power Plants to be deployed under the Offgrid Solar Applications Scheme in JNNSM 1. The committee met under the Chairpersonship of Dr B. Bandyopadhyay, Adviser, MNRE on 3rd Feb 2011 to discuss the issues relating to the standards, testing, and authorized test centers for components of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Systems and Power Plants to be deployed under the Offgrid Solar Applications Scheme in JNNSM. A list of participants is enclosed at Annexure-I. 2. Dr. Raza informed about the problems being faced by the State Renewable Energy Development Agencies in procuring the SPV systems for deployment in the States as the manufacturers have not been able to get their products as per the MNRE qualification standards fixed by the Ministry under the Scheme. Accredited test centers, certified products, testing equipments, etc. are not available in the country. Dr. Bhargava, explained in details the requirement of standards for various components of the SPV systems. Dr. Sastry presented a table containing the status of STQC labs with regard to the MNRE requirements. After a detailed discussion the following decisions were taken: 3. The requirement of compliance for various PV systems is divided into two broad categories. (i) The first category is for small PV systems, generally owned by individuals and these systems are being supplied through SNAs or regional rural banks. At present the capacity is limited to a maximum of 200 Wp per system. (ii) The second category is off-grid stand alone solar power plants of capacity above 1 kWp.

4. The following guidelines on technical performance compliance will be applicable immediately. The interested system integrator companies/manufacturers are requested to ensure full compliance to these requirements. In all cases a test report is required to be submitted for ascertaining eligibility and compliance. 4.1 Solar Lanterns, Home lighting systems, Street lighting systems and Small capacity (up to 1kWp) power plants:

PV Modules: Use of PV modules conforming to latest IEC 61215, IEC 61646 or IS 14286, IEC 62108 standards is essential. However, in case of PV modules used in the solar lanterns and home lights systems, while the IEC/BIS certification for the specific models may not be essential but the concerned manufacturer must have obtained

IEC/BIS certification for any of the modules manufactured by them to be eligible, provided they give an undertaking that the smaller modules are also manufactured using the same materials and processes, as used in the certified PV module. It is mandatory to provide a copy of the IEC/BIS PV module qualification certificate/report issued by an authorized laboratory to be eligible. RFID: At present use of RFID in small size PV modules, not exceeding 40 Wp is not essential. However, effective 1st August, 2011, it will be mandatory to supply modules with RFID tag. Electronics: At present the SNAs and regional rural banks are allowed to accept the test reports issued by SEC and other test centres authorized by MNRE, for acceptance of systems under the programme. However, effective 1st August, 2011 it will be essential to submit a copy of test report issued by any of the authorized test centre about the following: All electronic circuits used in the small lighting systems must qualify to the tests for thermal cycling, damp heat cycling & study state tests as per the relevant IEC 60068-2-6 (21,27,30,75,78) standard. The manufacturers of various electronic items used in PV systems are advised to prepare themselves and obtain IEC/BIS certification at an early date. After a review of the preparedness, this will also be made mandatory in due course of time. Battery: The batteries supplied as a part of the PV system should qualify the following tests, as specified in the relevant standards ( IEC 61427, IS 1651, IS 13369, IS 15549 or equivalent standards). capacity as per C/10 or C/20 rate, as applicable for the specific battery Watt-Hour and Amp-Hour efficiency, and charge retention/ Shelf Life test The concerned manufacturers are advised to provide a copy of the test report for the above tests, issued by any of the authorized test centres. This requirement is essential for all supplies to be made from 1st August, 2011 onwards. The battery manufacturers are also advised to obtain BIS/IEC certification for the batteries at an early date. Housing: The Housing containing the electronics, lamp and battery should qualify requirements of IP 21 or IP 65 standards depending on its use/ application i.e. indoors or outdoors. For solar lanterns and solar home lighting systems IP 21 will be sufficient, where as for solar street lights IP 65 enclosure will be required. The field Junction boxes in the small SPV power plant should qualify the IP 65. Housing assembly for Inverters, Charge controllers and/or MPPT require at least IP 21 certification. Systems Performance: Solar Lanterns, Home lighting systems and street lights should also qualify MNREs performance guidelines for the light output level, electronics efficiency, protections, indicators and other features, and PV modules

wattage requirement, battery type & capacity. In case of 1kWp PV power plants the system electronics should be tested at the authorized test centers. All manufactures are required to submit three samples to the authorized test centre for obtaining the required test report. They must submit the performance data for each sample submitted to the test centre. The test centres will issue a report clearly mentioning the performance reported by the manufacturer and the testing conducted by the test centre. Test reports based on single sample will be accepted for projects finalized before 1st August, 2011. The authorized test centres are also requested to ensure strict compliance of this requirement. Any test report issued effective 1st August, 2011, which is based on single sample testing, shall be considered invalid for participation under the programmes of the Ministry. Authorised Test centers: At present there Solar Energy Centre (SEC), Gurgaon, Haryana and ETDC, Bangalore are authorized by the Ministry for testing of the PV modules as per IEC and IS standards. As per the guidelines of the scheme, certificates issued by any of the IEC accredited Laboratories for PV modules is accepted. Any other test laboratory set up in the country can apply to the for authorization by the Ministry provided they have obtained NABL accreditation or they are elsewhere authorized by IEC to issue module qualification certificates. For performance testing of electronics SEC, ERTL (east), ERTL (west), ERTL (north), ETDC (Pune) and CPRI (Bangalore) are authorized. For environmental testing of the electronics for lighting systems and small capacity inverters SEC, ERTL (east), ERTL (west), ERTL (north), ETDC (Pune) and CPRI (Bangalore) are authorized. For testing batteries ERTL (east), Semi Lab Kolkata, CECRI Chennai, CPRI (Bangalore) ERTL (North), and SEC are authorized. Last date for Compliance: The manufacturers and suppliers of SPV systems are required to comply with the above standards or test requirements for the components and complete solar photovoltaic systems for availing subsidy and/ or loan at 5% annual interest rate effective from 1st August,2011. 4.2 PV systems of capacity >1 kWp:

- PV Modules: The PV modules must qualify the relevant IEC 61215, IEC 61646, IEC 62108 or IS 14286. Use of RFID is mandatory in all types of PV modules, regardless of their capacity, when used in such systems. - Inverters: The Inverters of >5KVA capacity should qualify to IEC 61683 or equivalent standard. The inverters should also qualify at the IEC 60068 2 (6,21,27,30,75,78) OR at least the following tests i.e Damp heat cycling/ study state and thermal cycling, (as per the relevant standard). Further, instead of vibration, shock, Hammer test and Robustness of terminations, the Inverters should qualify Drop test (IEC 60068-2-26). All

projects sanctioned effective 1st August, 2011 will ensure compliance to this requirement. - Batteries: The batteries should qualify IEC 61427, IS 1651, IS 13369 or IS 15549 whichever is applicable. If any of these certificates is not available, the battery should qualify the tests corresponding to capacity (as per C/10 or C/20 rate), efficiency of WattHour and Amp-Hour, and charge retention/ shelf life irrespective of type/ capacity of battery. - Housing: The field and array Junction Boxes will comply with IP65 standard. The electronics including inverters, CPU, charge controllers, MPPTs, AC & DC distribution boxes should comply with IP 21 standards. - Cables, Connectors, Switches & Circuit Breakers: Standards for cables, Switches, circuit breakers /Connectors/ Junction boxes/ enclosures will remains same as in the Administrative Approval. All component of the system should conform with standard and the composite system should also be certified with testing laboratories - SPV System Design & Installation Practices: The mandatory requirement IEC 62124 and IEC 60364-7-712 pertaining to design verification and Electrical installation of buildings requirements of SPV systems respectively are deferred at present. A committee of PV experts/ consultants will study the standards and identify the minimum requirements and the same will be intimated. - Authorised Test centers: At present there are two NABL & IECQ accredited centers namely, Solar Energy Centre (SEC), Gurgaon, Haryana and ETDC, Bangalore for testing PV modules as per IEC and IS standards. All test certificates from IEC accredited Laboratories are acceptable. For testing large capacity inverters ERTL (East), CPRI (Bangalore), ERTL(West) and ERTL(North) are authorized. For testing batteries ERTL (East), Semi Lab Kolkata, CECRI Chennai, CPRI (Bangalore) ERTL (North), and SEC are authorized. All PV power plants above 1kWp have to put energy meters for accounting and also have to provide energy delivery guarantee for the customers. The ministry shall inform all the concerned about the date of deferment of compliance of standard. It was felt that the compliance of standards should become effective from the 1st August, 2011. During the interim period, i.e. up to 31st July, 2011, State nodal agencies and other implementing agencies could continue to follow the procurement practices for SPV systems as during the year 2009-10. All the state nodal agencies could be informed about this decision.

Annexure 1 S. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Name Dr. B. Bandopadhyay Dr. B. Bhargava Dr. Ahmar Raza Dr. O S Sastry Dr. Rajesh Kumar Dr. G Prasad Dr. SK Sharma Shri SK Sangal Shri. B. Satish Rao Shri. D. Balamurgan Shrui. Mukul Verma Shri. Jasmeet Singh Shri. Kuldeepak Sharma Shri.M.C Sharma Smt. Prachi Gupta Shri. Y P Tyagi Shri Sanjoy Malash Shri. Gulshan Kapur Shri. A K Wadhwa Shri. R P Sondhi Shri. Amit Kumar Shri. Prabir Mohanty Shri. Virendra Dixit Shri. B M Mehra Shri Tarun Singh Shri P .K Dash Shri Arun Kumar Designation / Organization Adviser, MNRE Director, MNRE Director, MNRE Director, SEC, MNRE Director, SEC , MNRE Director, MNRE PSO, MNRE Consultant, MNRE ETDC, Bangalore Tata BP Solar BEL Amararaja Batteries Amararaja Batteries Central Electronics ltd. Avante Global Services CEL Exide Industries Ltd. Advanced Electronic Systems Ritika Systems ltd. Director, STQC Dte.,DIT Tata BP Solar Moserbaer BHEL CPRI Scientist B, MNRE Scientist B, MNRE Scientist B, MNRE