The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the deadline for BIS certification of solar inverters by six months. The new deadline is June 30, 2019.

The decision was taken after the MNRE officials recently met with all the stakeholders.

The inverter suppliers will be allowed self-certification without submitting samples to test labs as the series guidelines for submitting samples to test labs are currently under preparation.

The relaxation is incumbent upon the fact that inverter suppliers should have a valid IEC test reports from international test labs corresponding to Indian standards.

Previously, Mercom reported about the struggles of inverter manufacturers in gaining clarity on the ambiguous BIS certification process. The unavailability of labs, lack of testing facilities and manpower, unreasonable costs of testing, absence of series guidelines, and confusion by MNRE notifications were some of the issues that have made the compliance of the order Solar Photovoltaics Systems, Devices and Component Goods Order 2017 nearly impossible.

In the latest notification issued by MNRE, it states – “And whereas, the issues related to testing of inverters (items 4-5) was discussed with industry and test labs recognized by BIS, it is hereby notified that the date of self- certification relaxation for these items stands extended by six months i.e. up to 30th June 2019 subject to the condition that such manufacturers should have valid IEC and test reports from international test labs corresponding to IS. These manufacturers will be allowed self-certification without submitting samples to test labs as the series guidelines for submitting samples to test labs are under preparation.”

Earlier, realizing the need of quality products to be used in solar projects, the government had mandated that the tests must be conducted by labs for compulsory registration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for the implementation of the order titled Solar Photovoltaics Systems, Devices and Component Goods Order 2017.

Since the notification was released in September 5, 2017, the deadline has been extended several times as the industry has been seeking more and more time for the compliance of the order due to lack of lab facilities.