The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released draft amendment to the process for including wind turbine models in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM). Under the proposed changes, manufacturers are required to disclose the source of the turbine’s blade, tower, gearbox, and generator, along with details on the tower type, rate power, technical collaboration, type certification, and IS/ISO certification. A certificate confirming the wind turbine model type must also be submitted, along with information about manufacturing facilities in India for the aforementioned components.
According to the draft, only components sourced from Indian manufacturing facilities will be accepted for wind turbine models. However, exemptions have been proposed for new manufacturers, allowing imports of components for up to 50 wind turbines or a capacity of 200 MW, whichever is less. This is aimed at easing entry barriers for new participants in the sector. The draft does not propose any changes to the existing procedures or other conditions for inclusion in the RLMM.
To enhance the cybersecurity framework, the draft mandates that data centres and servers must be located within India, with all wind turbine-related information stored and maintained domestically. Real-time operational data must not be transferred outside India, and operational control of wind turbines must be exercised exclusively from facilities within the country. Additionally, a research and development centre must be set up in India within six months of the issuance of the memorandum.
