Government announces solar panels star labelling programme

Star enabling will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 million tonnes per annum by 2030.

The Government has come out with a Standards & Labelling Programme for solar panels. The programme, launched in New Delhi by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh, will make it easier for citizens to make an informed and judicious decision while purchasing and deploying solar photovoltaic modules, known commonly as solar panels. The star labelling scheme prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for PV modules is from January 1, 2024 till December 31, 2025.  For this period, there shall be no labelling fee as well.

On the one hand, the formulation of performance standards will enable customers to be better aware of the cost and energy savings from using solar panels. At the same time, this also contributes to the government’s larger goal of enhancing the share of renewable energy and reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030.

“Till now, consumers had no option but to go by what installer says; with Star Labelling Programme, citizens can know which brand of solar panel is more or less efficient,” the Minister said. He affirmed that the Standards & Labelling Programme is in the public interest, and explained how precisely the programme will empower the common man and woman who wants to install a solar panel. “While the government is promoting the solar rooftop programme, the common citizen has absolutely no idea as to which solar panel is more efficient or less efficient. At present, he or she is at the mercy of the vendor, the installer. The installer can say anything and the consumer had no way to check it. Now, the person who wants to get a rooftop installed can see for himself or herself which brand of solar module is more efficient, which is less efficient,” he added.