- The MNRE module warranty mandate sets a minimum product and performance warranty — reported as 10 and 25 years (verify the notice).
- Product warranty covers defects in the module; performance warranty covers output dropping below the curve.
- The warranty sits on the maker, but the client claims through the EPC — you are in the chain.
- Bad install, missing serials or no records can void a claim — keep evidence from day one.
- Terms and dates are point-in-time — verify against the latest MNRE notice (reported May 2026).
A longer warranty sounds like good news for your customers — and it is. But it only protects your EPC business if you can actually claim it. The MNRE module warranty mandate raises the floor on maker warranties, and that changes how you run AMC, store records and price O&M.
What the MNRE warranty mandate says
The MNRE module warranty mandate is a rule requiring solar modules to carry a minimum product warranty and a minimum performance warranty — reported as 10 years and 25 years. It pushes makers to stand behind their modules for longer and tightens the quality bar. Verify the exact scope, terms and applicability dates against the latest MNRE notice, reported around May 2026, as the terms may still be refined.
For an EPC, the mandate is less about the headline numbers and more about what they oblige you to keep and do. A warranty you cannot prove is worthless when a panel fails in year eight. The real work is in records and service, which is where AMC comes in.
Why MNRE tightened this
Long-life claims on solar only hold if the module actually lasts and the maker actually honours the warranty. By setting a floor, MNRE aims to protect buyers across the 25-year life of a system and weed out makers who cannot back their product. The rule connects to the wider quality push behind ALMM and BIS.
Product warranty vs performance warranty
A product warranty covers manufacturing defects in the module itself, such as delamination or a failed junction box, and the maker replaces or repairs it. A performance warranty guarantees the module still produces a stated share of its rated output over time, and the maker compensates output that falls below the agreed curve. They are two separate promises with different proof.
Product warranty — defects
This is the easy one to picture. A junction box melts, a cell cracks, the laminate peels — these are product defects. Within the product-warranty window the maker repairs or replaces the module. You prove it with the serial, the datasheet and photos of the fault.
Performance warranty — output
Modules lose a little output every year; that is normal. The performance warranty draws a line under how fast that decline can go. If a module produces less than the warranted percentage of rated power for its age, the maker must compensate. Proving this needs performance data over time, not a single reading.
Workmanship sits with the EPC
On top of the maker warranties, the EPC carries its own workmanship warranty on the install — mounting, wiring, earthing and labour. This is a separate promise you make to the client and it is not covered by the MNRE module mandate. Set its term clearly in your contract.
Warranty-denial clauses to read carefully
A solar module warranty can be voided by poor installation, wrong wiring or earthing, physical damage, unauthorised repair, or missing proof of the module serial and purchase. Warranty-denial clauses often turn on install quality and records, so read them before you sign a supply contract. The clause that voids a claim is the one that costs you later.
Note that some clarifications around the mandate address when a maker can and cannot deny a claim. Verify the warranty-denial wording against the latest MNRE notice, as a clarification reported in 2026 may narrow what a maker can refuse. The point-in-time terms matter here.
The clauses that bite most
- Install quality — a fault traced to bad mounting or wiring can shift liability to the EPC.
- Serial mismatch — if the failed module serial does not match the supply records, the maker can dispute.
- Environment limits — some warranties exclude damage outside stated temperature, load or salt-mist limits.
- Unauthorised work — opening or repairing a module yourself can void the cover.
Where the EPC sits in the warranty chain
The MNRE warranty mandate sits mainly on the module maker, but the EPC is in the chain. A homeowner or C&I client claims through the EPC, who then claims on the maker. The EPC also carries its own workmanship warranty on the install. Read your supply contract to see exactly where module liability ends and your liability begins.
In practice the client does not call the factory; they call you. If you cannot pass the claim through cleanly — because a record is missing or the fault looks like an install issue — you may end up carrying a cost that should have sat with the maker. Tight records protect your margin.
What the mandate means for your AMC
A longer warranty raises the value of a well-run AMC, because the AMC is what turns a warranty on paper into money or a replacement in practice. Performance claims especially need data the AMC collects — output trends, fault logs and visit records. Without that, a 25-year promise is hard to enforce.
AMC pricing and scope
Use the mandate to shape your AMC offer. Monitoring that catches output decline early, regular checks that protect install quality, and clean record-keeping all help a client realise their warranty. That is a service worth charging for. Map it to your O&M plan and price it as part of the lifetime relationship, not a free add-on.
The evidence you must keep per site
To claim a module warranty you need the exact module serial numbers, the model datasheet, the purchase invoice, the install date and photos, and any performance data showing output below the warranty curve. Without the serial-to-site link, a maker can dispute the claim. Keep these records per site from commissioning, not gathered after a fault appears.
Warranty terms at a glance
The table below compares the three warranties an EPC deals with, what each covers and what the remedy is. Treat the year figures as reported and point-in-time until you confirm the MNRE notice.
Source: MNRE warranty mandate as reported on 20 Jun 2026. Year terms are point-in-time — verify against the latest MNRE notice.
How a warranty claim actually runs
A real claim runs in steps: the client reports a fault to the EPC; the EPC inspects and matches the failed module serial to the site records; the EPC raises the claim with the maker, attaching proof; the maker assesses and approves a repair, replacement or compensation; the EPC installs the fix. Each step needs a record, and a gap anywhere stalls the claim.
Performance claims are slower because they need a trend, not a snapshot. You must show output under the warranty curve over a period, which is why monitoring data from your AMC is the backbone of any performance claim. Build that data collection in from commissioning.
How SuryaHub helps you keep warranties claimable
The warranty work is record work, and that is what SuryaHub is built for. SuryaHub can store each module serial, datasheet, invoice and install photo against the site, and track warranty windows and service visits in AMC and O&M, so a valid claim has its evidence ready. It links the same module record back to procurement so the supply trail is intact. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the warranty terms here are point-in-time, so verify them against the MNRE notice.
Make every warranty claimable
See how SuryaHub keeps serials, records and AMC visits in one place.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the MNRE module warranty mandate?+
The MNRE module warranty mandate is a rule requiring solar modules to carry a minimum product warranty and a minimum performance warranty, reported as 10 years and 25 years. It pushes makers to back their modules for longer. Verify the exact scope, terms and applicability dates against the latest MNRE notice, reported around May 2026, as terms may be refined.
What is the difference between product and performance warranty?+
A product warranty covers manufacturing defects in the module itself, such as delamination or a failed junction box, and the maker replaces or repairs it. A performance warranty guarantees the module still produces a stated share of its rated output over time, and the maker compensates output that falls below the agreed curve. They are separate promises.
Does the MNRE warranty mandate make the EPC liable?+
The MNRE warranty mandate sits mainly on the module maker, but the EPC is in the chain. A homeowner or C&I client claims through the EPC, who then claims on the maker. The EPC also carries its own workmanship warranty on the install. Read your supply contract to see exactly where module liability ends and your liability begins.
What can void a solar module warranty?+
A solar module warranty can be voided by poor installation, wrong wiring or earthing, physical damage, unauthorised repair, or missing proof of the module serial and purchase. Warranty-denial clauses often turn on install quality and records. Keep the serials, datasheet, install photos and invoices so a maker cannot reject a valid claim on a technicality.
What records do I need to claim a module warranty?+
To claim a module warranty you need the exact module serial numbers, the model datasheet, the purchase invoice, the install date and photos, and any performance data showing output below the warranty curve. Without the serial-to-site link, a maker can dispute the claim. Keep these records per site from commissioning, not gathered after a fault appears.
How does SuryaHub help with module warranty and AMC?+
SuryaHub can store each module serial, datasheet, invoice and install photo against the site, and track warranty windows and service visits in AMC, so a valid claim has its evidence ready. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and warranty terms here are point-in-time, so verify them against the MNRE notice.
Sources & references
Warranty-mandate terms come from MNRE and the module standards from BIS. The warranty-mandate scope and the warranty-denial clarification (reported May 2026) may be refined — verify against the latest MNRE notice before you rely on a figure or date.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
The warranty-mandate notice and module quality rules (verify scope and dates).
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
IS 14286 / IS 61730 module standards referenced in quality rules.
- NISE / National Institute of Solar Energy ↗
Testing and DCR context tied to module quality.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Warranty terms and the denial clarification are taken from the MNRE notice as reported and re-checked regularly. The 10-year, 25-year terms and the applicability dates are point-in-time — verify against the latest MNRE notice (reported May 2026). SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.