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The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released a draft amendment to the procedure for the inclusion or updating of wind turbine models in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM). This draft is being shared for stakeholder consultation, and all stakeholders have been requested to submit their comments within three weeks to the Wind Division of MNRE.
The amendments are meant to update the earlier procedure issued through an official memorandum dated November 1, 2018. As per the revised clause 4(g), the details of wind turbine models and manufacturers approved for inclusion in RLMM will be uploaded on the MNRE website. These include the name and contact details of the manufacturer, model name, and details such as hub height, rotor diameter, tower type, and rated power. Other details to be shared are technical collaboration, type certificate with validity, IS/ISO certificate with validity, and now also the domestic vendors or sources for blade, tower, gearbox, and generator.
The earlier clause 4(h) has also been amended. It states that the type certificate of the wind turbine model must mandatorily include details of the blade, tower, gearbox, and generator manufacturing facilities in India. These components should only be sourced from such Indian facilities. However, a limited exemption is being proposed. For any new wind turbine manufacturer or new model, importing components required for up to 50 wind turbines or a capacity of 200 MW—whichever is lower—will be allowed for a period of one year from the date of inclusion in RLMM. Additionally, the requirement concerning gearbox and generator sourcing will come into effect after six months from the issuance of this new order.
A new clause, 4(i), has been introduced to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem in the wind energy sector. It mandates that all data centres and servers must be located in India, and all data related to wind turbines must be stored and maintained within the country. The transfer of real-time operational data outside India is prohibited, and operational control of the wind turbines must be managed exclusively by facilities within India. It also requires that all wind turbine manufacturers set up their research and development centres in India within six months from the issuance of this order.
Another new clause, 4(j), has been added to update the process for application submission. The application, along with all required documents, should now be submitted in soft copy to Shri Rishikesh Vaishnav, with a copy to Shri A. Senthil Kumar.
All other procedures and conditions related to the inclusion of wind turbine models in the RLMM remain unchanged. These draft amendments have been issued with the approval of the Hon’ble Minister for New and Renewable Energy and are intended to improve transparency, local sourcing, data security, and domestic manufacturing in the wind energy sector.
