Solar Thermal Industry

There is a sizeable base of solar thermal industry, which has come up in the country for manufacturing of solar water heating systems and different type of solar cookers. Normally, design configuration of solar water heating systems is based either on flat plate solar collectors or evacuated tube solar collectors. An Indian Standard is available for testing and performance of flat plate collectors, and license to use ISI-mark is granted by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to the products meeting the requirements.

Solar Flat Plate Collectors

The BIS operates a scheme for testing and inspection of solar flat plate collectors, based on IS 12933:2003, whereby the manufacturers are required to apply to BIS for obtaining the license to mark their product with ISI. The manufacturers whose product has been certified by BIS in conformity with the relevant Indian Standard are eligible to get support under various MNRE programmes. A list of such manufacturers is maintained by BIS at its website (http://www.bis.org.in/cert/bg.html). There are 58 manufacturers as on September 25, 2007. In case of difficulty to access the site, the following URL may be copied in the Internet browser:

http://nicdc.nic.in/CMMS/InternetRep/InternetReportView.aspx?strstate=&strISNO=12933.001&Report=14&StrProdName=IS%2012933%20:%20Part%201%20:%202003&strDistt=&strBrand=

Evacuated Tube Collectors based Solar Hot Water Systems

Solar hot water systems are also configured to have evacuated tube collectors (ETCs), instead of flat plate solar collectors. Presently, there are no Indian Standards available to test ETCs. However, with a view to make these systems available, the Ministry maintains a list of eligible manufacturers/ suppliers. In order to register in this list, the manufacturer/supplier of ETC based systems is required to submit an application in the format to

The Director,
Solar Thermal Group,
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,
Block 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003

The various enclosures, which are required to be submitted along with the application, include the following:

A copy of the test report on the performance of a typical solar hot water system from either of the test centres; the test sample of solar hot water system shall use the imported ETCs.

A copy of the test report of ETCs as obtained by the foreign manufacturer from an Internationally accredited laboratory.

A copy of the agreement of the manufacturer/ supplier with the foreign supplier appointing him as the local agent for the sale and service of the ETCs or authorizing him to sell their product in India with availability of their full technical support.

A profile of the Company to show experience in dealing with the sale and service of the solar thermal products.

Guidelines are being amended for empanelment of manufacturers/suppliers of ETC based Solar Water Heating Systems. Comments/observations may be mailed by 14th November, 2008 if any.

Box-type Solar Cookers

Similar to flat plate solar collectors, box-type solar cookers are also covered under BIS scheme of testing and inspection to grant license to the manufacturers to use ISI-mark on their product. A list of manufacturers whose product has been certified in conformity of IS 13429: 2000 is maintained by BIS at its website (http://www.bis.org.in/cert/bg.html). In order to access the list directly, the following URL may be copied in the Internet browser:

http://nicdc.nic.in/CMMS/InternetRep/InternetReportView.aspx?strstate=&strISNO=13429.001&Report=14&StrProdName=IS%2013429%20:%20Part%201%20:%202000&strDistt=&strBrand=

As on September 25, 2007, there are five manufacturers who are holding the BIS-license. Besides these, there are other known manufacturers of box-type solar cookers, whose names are available in the list of box-type solar cookers.

Concentrating Solar Cookers

There are three type of concentrating solar cookers viz. dish solar cookers, community (Scheffler) solar cooker for indoor cooking, and solar steam cooking systems. The Ministry compiles a list of known manufacturers of concentrating solar cookers.