The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has written a letter to domestic manufacturers, state nodal agencies, and concerned stakeholders regarding the mandatory testing of concentrated solar thermal (CST) products.

According to the letter, it was noticed that many manufacturers of CST power products had made changes to them without obtaining test reports for the improved systems.

The NISE has also highlighted that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has established the testing of CST technology at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram and Savitribai Phule Pune University. The services that will be provided include:

• Test facility for testing of hot water/steam-based CST systems
• Test facility for testing of thermal oil-based CST systems
• Mobile test facility for on-site performance evaluation of CST systems
• Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) component test facility

Further, NISE has urged all CST manufacturers, stakeholders, new entrepreneurs, and developers to get their products tested and certified through NISE or through Savitribai Phule Pune University on or before December 31, 2019.

In case the manufacturers fail to do so, they would not be able to avail benefits under MNRE’s program for off-grid and decentralized CST technologies for community cooking, process heat, and space heating and cooling applications in industrial, institutional and commercial establishments.

Announced by the MNRE in 2014, this program aims to promote the use of CST technology for reducing dependence on fossil fuels for thermal applications like community cooking, process heating, cooling, and drying.

The program was further extended to 2019-20 to promote the application of solar thermal technology. Through the evaluation study, the MNRE is looking to analyze the effectiveness, impact, and necessity of this initiative. Moreover, the study is expected to help the ministry to decide on how to revise or renew the program.

The letter also mentions names and contact details of designated individuals for the facilitation of testing and certification.

Recently, the MNRE issued an expression of interest (EoI) for conducting technical and performance evaluation of its program for off-grid and decentralized concentrated solar thermal technologies.

In April 2019, the MNRE issued a draft quality control order for solar thermal systems as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act to address the lack of quality certification in solar components, which has become a common concern in the sector.