MNRE Guidelines on Remote Monitoring for Inverters to Impact Smaller Inverter Players

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) draft guidelines on RMS for inverter communication devices/dongles/data-loggers with Centralised Platform under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The guidelines seek to mandate the remote monitoring capability of inverters across all types, something that will place many local players at a disadvantage, including those importing white label inverters from China and selling them here. With very specific 'must-haves' and software requirements, besides data storage, the proposed guidelines call for feedback by July 31st. Currently, MNRE has tentatively targeted September 1 for testing of the new integration protocols for inverters. 

The proposed guidelines, while in sync with similar moves worldwide, will still need some time for manufacturers, especially importers, to integrate. Current market leaders like Sungrow, Solis, or even the recent entrant Hoymiles, all Chinese firms, may not face significant issues as their inverters do come with ready features, although they might have to adapt the same for local data storage and other demands now.    

The Positives

The move also has implications for factors beyond safety and data protection, considered a matter of national security. For one, a good locally integrated RMS means real-time generation tracking and fault detection will be much faster now. EPC performance will be more transparent to enable both the government and customers to make more informed decisions. 

The mandate for M2M SIMs and Indian servers for all inverters might require some reconfiguration and a learning curve for some suppliers, though. MNRE is also finalizing a vendor-neutral, open communication protocol for RTS monitoring and control via the National Portal.