Lok Sabha Question No. 3218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Renewable Energy Standardization Cell
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3218

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2020

## RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDIZATION CELL

## 3218.  DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  set  up  a  Renewable  Energy  Standardization Cell(RESC);
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives of the cell;
- (c) whether it is necessary to develop and update the standards for various renewable energy systems  and  their  related  components  to  achieve  India's  goal  of  reaching  175GW  of renewable energy by 2022;
- (d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether there is a need to provide all the information regarding programmes and policies of the Government and resolve issues related to renewable energy investors and industry; and
- (f) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY, POWER and MoS for  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on 18 th February 2020 notified setting  up  of  'Renewable  Energy  Standardization  Cell  (RESC)'  to  coordinate  development, updation  and  adoption  of  standards  for  quality  assurance  in  renewable  energy  sector.  The objectives of the cell are as follows;

- I. to identify the areas in renewable energy sector where standards need to be developed /updated/ adopted.
- II. identify  and  peruse  international  standards  such  as  ISO,  IEC,  etc.  for  applications  in Indian climatic conditions. In case modifications are needed, the same should be done and tried in test labs for revision suitable for Indian climatic conditions.
- III. Initiate  the  process  of  developing  standards  involving  experts  from  R&D  institutions, test labs and industry.

(c)Yes,  Sir.  Testing  and  standardization  facilitate  industrial  participation,  and  hence  boost commercialization  of  renewable  energy  across  the  globe.  In  view  of  fast  developments  in technologies  particularly  in  solar  and  wind  sectors,  developing  and  updating  of  standards  of renewable  energy  systems  and  components  is  critically  essential  for  reliability  and  quality assurance of renewable energy supply to utilities.

(d)  The  MNRE  on  7.12.2017  notified  the  Lab  Policy  for  Testing,  Standardization  and Certification for Renewable Energy Sector, which mandates developing/updating and adopting standards  for  renewable  energy  systems  and  components,  and  setting  up  a  robust  quality infrastructure  for  quality  assurance  in  renewable  energy  supply  in  the  country.  Regular interaction  are  done  with  experts,  industry  and  the  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards(BIS)  for development, up dation and adoption of standards. International Standards are perused for the purpose.

For quality control in SPV power projects, the MNRE on 5 th September 2017 notified technical regulation  for  quality  control  of  SPV  Systems,  Components  and  Devices  under  BIS  Act (Compulsory  Registration  Scheme).  As  per  the  said  order  products,  namely,  SPV  Modules, Solar  Inverters  and  Battery  storage  have  to  conform  to  the  specified  Indian  Standards  which correspond to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards, listed in the order. In wind  energy,  IEC  Standards  are  followed  by  stakeholders.  In  small  hydro  power  projects, comprehensive guidelines based on standards are followed. As follow up to RESC, action has been initiated to consolidate the status of standards in order to develop/update Indian Standards in all areas of renewable energy.

(e) Well defined programmes and policies covering framework, target, guidelines and ecosystem for commissioning of renewable energy projects, involving state governments with commitment from DISCOMS to purchase RE power with timely payment to RE generators are essential to create enabling environment for investors and industry for investment  in the renewable energy sector in the country.

(f)  The  steps  taken  by  the  government  streamlining  policies  and  guidelines  to  encourage investment for promotion of renewable energy on a large scale in the country, interalia, include the following: -

-  Target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022;
-  Permitting Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) up to 100 percent under the automatic route;
-  Waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges and losses for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned up to December 2022;
-  Notification  of  standard  bidding  guidelines  to  enable  distribution  licensees  to  procure solar and wind power at competitive rates in cost effective manner;
-  Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation(RPO) up to the year 2022;
-  Implementation of Green Energy Corridor project to facilitate grid integration of large scale renewable energy capacity addition;
-  Setting up of Ultra Mega RE Parks;
-  Opening  of LCs  by  all  DISCOMS/distribution  licenses  for  all  independent  RE producers;
-  Launching of new Schemes, such as, PM-KUSUM, Solar Rooftop Phase-II, 12000MW CPSU Scheme Phase-II, etc.
-  Quality control order on SPV Systems and Components with guidelines for testing of SPV Modules, Inverters and Storage battery .

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