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MNRE Tightens Solar Module Traceability With New BIS Model Number Rules Photograph: (AI)
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) requiring solar PV module manufacturers to incorporate country-specific identifiers into model numbers registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
The SOP, issued by MNRE’s Standards & Quality Control Division, aims to establish a clear and verifiable mechanism for tracing the manufacturing origin of both solar modules and the cells used in their bill of materials (BOM).
Under the new mechanism, all new registrations and inclusions of solar PV module models will have to carry a four-character country identifier as a suffix to the existing model number. The suffix will follow the format “MMCC”, where the first two characters represent the ISO country code of the country where the module manufacturing unit is located, while the next two characters represent the country where the solar cells incorporated in the particular BOM were manufactured.
For example, a module manufactured in India using cells manufactured in another country would have the corresponding two-letter country codes appended to its model number. The four-character suffix will form an integral part of the model number for BIS registration, certification and subsequent identification.
The SOP also requires separate model numbers where a manufacturer uses different BOM configurations containing solar cells manufactured in different countries. A single suffixed model number will not be permitted to cover BOMs containing cells manufactured in different countries. However, multiple cell manufacturers may be used under a particular model if all the manufacturers are from the same country and the approved BOM clearly identifies the manufacturers and cell details.
The new requirements will also apply to solar PV module models that are already registered with BIS. Manufacturers will have to create corresponding additional model numbers carrying the four-character country identifier and submit BOM details that restrict or separate the solar cells according to the country represented in the suffix.
MNRE has clarified that fresh testing will not be required where the creation of the additional model number involves only the deletion, restriction or separation of already-approved solar cells or cell variants from an existing BOM, without any addition or modification to the BOM, component, material, manufacturing process or design. In such cases, the original test report can be relied upon following documentary verification of the revised BOM by the test laboratory.
Following satisfactory verification, the test laboratory will issue a supplementary test report containing the new model number and revised BOM, with reference to the original test report. No fresh testing fee will be charged for such supplementary reports, except applicable charges related to areas such as marking or documentation.
BIS will subsequently issue a revised certificate or addendum incorporating the newly created model numbers, subject to fulfilment of applicable requirements.
Test laboratories will be required to verify that the module manufacturing location corresponds to the first two characters of the suffix and that the solar cell manufacturing country corresponds to the final two characters. They must also ensure that cells covered under a particular suffixed model are manufactured only in the country represented by the suffix.
The SOP further specifies that if a new BOM is introduced, applicable retesting, series approval and model-number identification guidelines will have to be followed.
MNRE has given manufacturers of existing BIS-registered PV module models 180 days from the date of issue of the Office Memorandum to submit the required applications and complete the BIS registration process for the country-coded additional model numbers.
After the expiry of the 180-day period, all applications for registration, inclusion or addition of solar PV module models will have to comply with the new model-number identification mechanism. BIS will not accept or process applications where the prescribed model number and corresponding BOM requirements have not been met, as applicable.
The ministry has also mandated consistent use of the complete country-coded model number across the product label and marking, test report, BIS certificate, module datasheet and other documents wherever the model number is required to be declared.
The new SOP follows MNRE’s Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, notified on January 27, 2025, which brought solar PV modules under the applicable quality-control framework requiring conformity with Indian Standards and the BIS Standard Mark. It also follows the revised Guidelines for Series Approval of SPV Modules issued in December 2025.
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