UL Completes First BHEL Solar Module Tests for BIS Certification Programme

UL, a leading global safety science company, has successfully completed the first series of tests for solar panels manufactured by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) under the mandatory certification programme of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

One of the country’s earliest manufacturers of solar modules, BHEL has a module manufacturing capacity of 226 megawatts (MW) at its state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru. , UL collaborates with BHEL on various projects and will continue to support the company in the BIS programme.

“Over the past three decades, BHEL has led the development of solar manufacturing capacity in India, enhancing sustainability and environmental goals. The ongoing efforts to strengthen the quality of solar modules through the BIS certification is an important development, and BHEL fully subscribes to the programme. UL played an important role in our journey to achieve the highest standards of quality and performance,” says Rajababu D., general manager, BHEL.

Commenting on the development, Suresh Sugavanam, UL’s vice president and managing director for South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa said, “We are honoured to service BHEL to meet their testing and certification requirements. As one of the most formidable public sector units, BHEL has played an important role in establishing a domestic quality ecosystem. By creating a network of local vendors, the BHEL is an inspiration for the domestic manufacturing industry.”

As part of this programme, samples of 4BB and 5BB high-efficiency modules of both monocrystalline and polycrystalline varieties between 300 to 340 wattage were tested by UL at their Bengaluru solar photovoltaic laboratory over a period of two months. A battery of over 100 tests, including a damp heat test and thermal cycling test were performed on the samples, as required by BIS certification standards. 

UL is the first laboratory in India empanelled by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for testing various components, such as PV modules, solar inverters, charge controllers and solar lighting systems. The facility is equipped to test these products for national and international certification programmes, including those specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission.

The Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices, and Component Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration under BIS Act) Order 2017, issued by MNRE in August 2017, has been enforced since Sept. 1, 2018.