MNRE Unveils Guidelines For Secure And Centralized Monitoring Of Rooftop Solar Under PM Surya Ghar

In a significant step toward strengthening India’s energy security and modernizing its power infrastructure, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has finalized detailed guidelines for integrating rooftop solar (RTS) power plants with a centralized monitoring system. Released on December 24, 2025, these guidelines provide a standardized framework for communication devices such as inverters, dongles, dataloggers, and Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

The core aim of this initiative is to ensure smooth and secure data exchange between solar assets deployed in the field and the Centralized IoT SCADA Platform. The Ministry has emphasized that all RTS data must be hosted on servers within India and managed by government agencies. This requirement seeks to protect national energy sovereignty and reduce risks associated with unauthorized remote access or potential grid disruptions that could occur if sensitive generation and consumption data were sent to servers outside the country.

The guidelines set strict protocols for communication. All inverter devices are required to use the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) SIM communication protocol. To safeguard the data, the security system incorporates Private TLS/SSL VPNs, which help prevent cyberattacks such as “packet sniffing” and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. Additionally, every message exchanged within the system will have a “MessageKey,” which restricts access by spammers or bots, ensuring transaction-level security for all remote operations and configurations.

Technical interoperability has also been a major focus of the guidelines. RMS devices will communicate with inverters using widely accepted protocols such as MODBUS RTU or Modbus TCP. Energy meters are required to use the RS-232 DLMS protocol. To account for potential disruptions in cellular network connectivity, the system is designed to store time-stamped data locally for a minimum of 60 days and automatically push the stored information to the central server once the connection is restored.

Device registration is another critical aspect of the framework. Each installer and device will receive unique credentials and digital certificates based on their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This controlled registration ensures that only authorized and verified devices can transmit data to the national platform, enhancing the integrity of the system.

By implementing this vendor-neutral and scalable framework, the MNRE aims to improve the operational efficiency of the PM Surya Ghar scheme while preparing the country for future technological growth. The system is designed to accommodate additional devices and advanced analytics, supporting India’s long-term renewable energy targets while maintaining strict regulatory oversight and data sovereignty.

The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen India’s solar supply chain and digital public infrastructure. With a focus on secure data management, interoperability, and scalability, the new guidelines mark a major milestone in India’s efforts to achieve energy self-reliance. By ensuring that all rooftop solar assets are monitored through a robust and government-managed system, the MNRE is paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and future-ready renewable energy ecosystem in the country.

Overall, this step reflects India’s commitment to enhancing grid stability, securing sensitive energy data, and supporting the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. It reinforces the importance of integrating modern digital solutions with sustainable energy initiatives, ensuring that the nation continues on its path toward energy security and self-reliance.

This move is expected to have a long-term impact on the PM Surya Ghar scheme, making rooftop solar installations more reliable, secure, and efficient while safeguarding the country’s energy infrastructure from cyber and operational risks.