Hybrid Inverters Allowed Under PM Surya Ghar Scheme: MNRE

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently released a document clarifying operational guidelines on the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The new clause widened the technologies included under the CFA offered to residential consumers.

The new clause as per the latest document issued by the MNRE included additional technologies such as small wind hybrids, battery storage, solar tracker systems, etc. The provision also supported the inclusion of additional technology components, like battery storage systems under the scheme and encouraged the use of hybrid inverters under the revised provision. This provision can be incorporated by the respective states/UT through their respective state/UT for rooftop solar plants under PMSG: MBY.

Provision For Vendors 

In the latest notification MNRE added a clause stating, “After the vendor has completed the installation, the consumer is expected to update the system details on the portal. They must update the system details on the portal and upload the relevant details, including a geotagged photograph, once the project is completed.”

Additionally, addressing uncertainty about uploading photographs with the rooftop solar plant, the MNRE’s latest notification revised the provision, under which the consumer is not mandated to be included in the photograph to be uploaded on the National Portal after the installation of the rooftop solar plant.

After receiving representations from the Vendors’ Association, which informed the ministry that, “Some residential consumers are willing to install rooftop solar inverters of higher capacity, i.e., up to the sanctioned connected load or up to a capacity allowed under the respective regulation for the installation of the rooftop solar plant and initially lesser Solar PV capacity.”

Easing out process 

This regulation eased the process for consumers willing to install solar PV with inverters of higher capacities. This would allow the consumer to switch to a higher PV capacity, as allowed by the respective regulation, at a later stage without changing the solar inverter. In this regard, the notification said, “DISCOMs are requested to allow the installation of solar inverters up to the capacity allowed under the regulation and initially lesser PV capacity. This would allow the consumer to switch to a higher PV capacity at a later stage without changing the solar inverter.”

In this regard, the regulation requests that DISCOMs allow solar installations up to the sanctioned connected load or up to a capacity allowed under the regulation for rooftop solar plants. This regulation is also applicable to lower-capacity solar modules presently being installed by residential consumers.

However, this regulation applies only to the sanctioned capacity load of the consumers as allowed by the regulation. The CFA will, however, be released only for 3kW solar PV capacity, as eligible under PMSG: MBY.