Solar Panels to have Star Label indicating Quality and Energy Efficiency, Programme to be voluntary for first two years

Source: The post is based on the article “Solar Panels to have Star Label indicating Quality and Energy Efficiency, Programme to be voluntary for first two years” published in “PIB” on 21st October 2023

What is the News?

The Government has launched the Standards & Labelling Programme for solar panels. 

What is the Standards & Labelling Programme?

Launched by: Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) 

Aim: To provide consumers an informed choice about the energy and cost-saving potential of the star labelled appliances/equipment being sold in the Indian market. 

Rating: The scheme involves laying down energy performance norms for appliances/equipment by rating its energy performance on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 star labelled appliance being the most energy efficient one. 

Appliances covered: The program presently covers 34 appliances.Out of which 15 appliances are under the mandatory regime which means these appliances cannot be sold in the market without the label and 19 appliances are in voluntary regime where the market is in development stage.

Significance: The scheme has resulted in overall electricity saving of 70.56 billion units translating to an abatement of 57.05 million ton of CO emission in FY 2021-2022.

What is the Standards & Labelling Programme for solar panels?

Source: PIB

Aim: To help the Indian customers to make an informed decision by helping citizens to know which brands of solar panels are more or less efficient.

Duration: The labelling will be voluntary for the first two years from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.During this period, no labelling fee will be charged.

Significance: The program is expected to enhance Solar PV module efficiency by 2% over its existing levels.

– Due to this performance improvement, the electricity generation is expected to increase by 33GWh/year and this will offset ~27,000 tons of CO2 emission per annum.