India launches Solar Star rating program to boost energy efficiency

Home
Industry News
India launches Solar Star rating program to boost energy efficiency

India launches Solar Star rating program to boost energy efficiency

Industry News
Oct 23,23

Developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), this initiative will be effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

India launches Solar Star rating program to boost energy efficiency

The Indian government has launched a Standards and Labelling Program for solar modules, designed to assess their quality and energy efficiency. Developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), this initiative will be effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

Initially, the program will operate on a voluntary basis for the first two years, with mandatory compliance becoming a requirement afterward. Manufacturers seeking registration are obligated to pay a security fee of Rs 100,000 (~$1,203) for each model. However, small-scale industries can secure registration with a valid certificate and a reduced security fee of Rs 25,000 (~$300). Additionally, an application fee of Rs 2,000 (~$24) must be paid to obtain the label for a specific model. Renewal applications do not incur extra charges.

Solar modules will be rated on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, and manufacturers will pay a labelling fee of Rs 0.02(~$0.00024)/watt to display these stars on each unit. Notably, the government plans to incentivise high-quality modules by waiving labelling fees for 4 and 5-star-rated solar modules until December 31, 2025.

This program holds immense potential for positive environmental impact. By enhancing solar module efficiency by an estimated 2% from current levels, an additional 33 GWh of electricity generation is anticipated annually, according to government estimates. Union Power Minister RK Singh stated that star labelling of solar modules could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 million tons annually by 2030.

Consumers upgrading from lower-rated modules to higher-rated ones can expect significant benefits. For example, transitioning from a 1-Star to a 2-Star solar module on a typical 10-square-meter roof area is projected to yield approximately 12% additional electricity generation. The gains become even more substantial, ranging from 29% to 35%, when upgrading from a 1-Star module to a 4-Star or 5-Star module, as per government statements.

Under the program, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency or its designated agency will randomly select samples from the market to assess various module batches and models. If samples fail to meet the required standards during the initial assessment, a second check testing will be conducted. If any sample in the second check testing fails to meet the standards, the module will be deemed non-compliant. In such cases, the manufacturer must submit a fresh application with derated effective efficiency for the failed module. Testing will be conducted in laboratories accredited by the Bureau of Indian Standards or the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

The government's vision is to promote solar modules that are both high-quality and entirely "Made in India." This comprehensive plan includes policies encouraging domestic manufacturing of solar cells and wafers. The ultimate goal is to achieve solar modules that are 100% domestically produced and of the highest quality. India aims to achieve excellence in solar module manufacturing by gradually eliminating less efficient modules and outdated models from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has emphasised that action will be taken against companies violating domestic content requirement provisions prescribing domestically manufactured solar cells and modules, within the limits permitted by the World Trade Organisation.

Source: Mercom India