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MNRE Proposes Standardised Firmware Rules for Rooftop Solar Monitoring Systems

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released draft guidelines aimed at standardising firmware development for dataloggers and remote monitoring systems used in rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The initiative is designed to ensure seamless interoperability, stronger cybersecurity, and consistent data communication across devices nationwide.

The draft outlines detailed specifications for firmware APIs, covering areas such as local HTTP-based configuration, cellular network setup, secure SSL communication, and inverter connectivity through Serial and Modbus protocols. It also introduces UUID-based telemetry mapping for both single-phase and three-phase systems. To maintain uniformity, manufacturers are required to strictly follow the prescribed API structures, without altering or omitting any parameters.

To simplify installation and commissioning, each device must include a label or QR code displaying key information such as default IP address, login credentials, Wi-Fi SSID, IMEI number, and serial number. The guidelines also mandate a token-based authentication system, where devices generate time-bound access tokens that must be validated for every API request.

Security has been given significant emphasis, with the draft requiring certificate-based communication using three separate files—root certificate, client certificate, and private key. These must be securely uploaded and used to establish encrypted connections, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected at all stages.

The document further specifies mandatory parameter mapping for inverters and solar energy meters across single-phase and three-phase configurations. These include critical performance indicators such as voltage, current, power output, energy generation, frequency, and alarm thresholds, all of which must be implemented exactly as defined.

Additionally, the guidelines introduce features like offline data retrieval through structured APIs and an optional SMS-based fallback mechanism for areas with limited internet connectivity. In such cases, devices are required to send daily updates on energy generation to a pre-authorised mobile number.

MNRE has invited feedback from industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, DISCOMs, and system integrators, with a submission deadline set for April 11, 2026. The move is expected to bring greater standardisation and reliability to India’s rapidly expanding rooftop solar ecosystem.