MNRE Asks Module Makers To Share DCR Data Since Jan 2024

MNRE Asks Module Makers To Share DCR Data Since Jan 2024

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a new order asking the Indian solar module and cell manufacturers to share the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR)- related data since January 1, 2024. The ministry asked the solar companies to share this data on the DCR verification portal of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). The latest order comes months after the ministry asked the solar companies to feed in their data on the portal to verify and track DCR solar modules.

This ministry has mandated the compulsory use of DCR solar modules for central government projects like PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM. The ministry had earlier asked the existing Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) enlisted manufacturers to register with their solar manufacturing facilities on the portal.

It asked them to start feeding the data concerning their models and cells manufactured by them. The step was taken to boost transparency and halt the use of non-DCR modules and cells, masquerading as DCR modules in such projects.

The latest order said that all the concerned solar module and solar cell makers will now need to fill in the past data too since January 1, 2024, mandatorily.

“All concerned stakeholders to mandatorily fill all past data (from 1 st January 2024 onwards) in respect of Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) compliant solar PV modules1 on the DCR Verification portal operated by National Institute of Solar Energy, at the link: https://solardcrportal.nise. res.in,” the MNRE notification said.

It also added the lack of DCR credentials of the solar module makers can bar them from such projects in case of defiance. “From 1 st December 2024 onwards, any solar PV module, whose DCR credentials cannot be verified through the aforesaid DCR verification portal, shall not be accepted under MNRE’s CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and PM-KUSUM,” the ministry added.

Notification raises confusion 

While the move can help the government and consumers to ensure DCR compliance of the solar module there are some other issues here.

The latest notification has added confusion among solar module makers and industry associations. Some of them have talked about the likely misuse of the same provision. Some solar companies fear that this can lead to some practical issues like the complexities in uploading these data from the past months as many of them have already been despatched for use and installed.

There are apprehensions in the industry that such a move lead to credit of DCR compliance for those solar panels that are already installed under these schemes without proper verification, hinting at a chance of likely misuse of the provision.