The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced amendments to the procedure for including wind turbine models in its official list, with a strong focus on promoting domestic manufacturing, strengthening cybersecurity, and ensuring data sovereignty. The Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM) will now be renamed as the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind) or ALMM (Wind), effective from the date of this new Office Memorandum.
The amendments introduce several new and updated clauses to the existing guidelines, which are applicable to all wind turbine models, including those already listed and new ones submitted for enlistment.
Key Amendments and New Requirements
The guidelines now mandate the creation of a separate list, ALMM (Wind Turbine Components), which will be issued after a Technical Team constituted by MNRE inspects the manufacturing facilities for critical components. These components include blades, towers, generators, gearboxes, and special bearings (Main, Pitch, and Yaw Bearing).
The Type Certificate for a wind turbine model must now mandatorily include the manufacturing/assembly facility for these key components. Furthermore, wind turbine manufacturers must only source these components from facilities that are included in the ALMM (Wind Turbine Components) list. A separate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this inspection will be issued soon.
To strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem, the new guidelines introduce strict provisions:
- Data centers and/or servers must be located within India, and all data related to wind turbines must be stored and maintained domestically.
- The transfer of real-time operational data outside of India is prohibited.
- Operational control of a wind turbine must be conducted exclusively from a facility located in India.
- Manufacturers are required to establish an R&D Centre in India within one year from the issuance of this memorandum.
When submitting an application for inclusion, manufacturers are now required to provide details on the vendors or sources for blades, towers, generators, gearboxes, and special bearings, in addition to the existing requirements like contact details, model specifications, and certificates.
Exemptions and Application Process
The new sourcing requirements will not apply to certain projects:
- Projects where bids have been closed before the issuance of this OM, provided they are commissioned within three years.
- Wind power projects commissioned within 18 months from the date of this OM under Captive/Open Access/C&I/Third Party sale modes.
- New Wind Turbine Manufacturers and/or New Models are granted an exemption for a period of two years from their enlistment in ALMM(Wind), limited to 800 MW capacity. However, these exempted entities must submit a quarterly progress report to show compliance progress, with failure to do so possibly leading to delisting.
The application process has also been updated. Applications along with all required documents must now be submitted in soft copy to Shri Rishikesh Vaishnav, Scientist ‘C’ (rishikesh.mnre@gov.in), with a copy to Shri A. Senthil Kumar (asenthilkumar@niwe.res.in).
The MNRE also notes that any import required for manufacturing wind turbines must comply with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Equipment Import Monitoring System (REEIMS) once it is notified. This directive is issued with the approval of the competent authority, aiming to bolster domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance in India’s wind energy sector.