- This guide is for EPCs and developers, not homeowners.
- Commissioning proves the pump delivers water at the rated head.
- The signed report is usually the trigger for the subsidy claim (verify with your SNA).
- Capture geo-tagged photos, readings and the joint-inspection sign-off.
- Commissioning starts the 5-year O&M clock and times PBG release.
A clean PM-KUSUM solar pump commissioning checklist is what stands between a finished site and a paid subsidy. This page is written for the EPC or developer doing the sign-off — not the farmer. Get the checks, the acceptance test and the evidence right, and your claim moves.
Commissioning is not a formality you tick off at the end. It is the proof that the system you built actually pumps water, runs safely, and matches the MNRE specification. The state nodal agency, the DISCOM and the farmer all rely on this one report. So treat it as the most important hour of the whole project.
What commissioning and the acceptance test mean
Commissioning is the final stage where the EPC proves the installed solar pump runs and delivers water as promised. The crew finishes every mechanical and electrical check, energises the system, runs the acceptance test, records readings, and signs a commissioning report with the farmer.
The acceptance test is the heart of commissioning. It is a measured performance test: the pump runs at the rated head for a defined period, and the EPC measures the real water output against the guaranteed discharge in the spec. A pass means the system is accepted. A fail means more work before any sign-off.
Why commissioning gates the subsidy claim
Commissioning gates the subsidy because the signed commissioning report is usually the trigger that lets the EPC raise the claim. Most state nodal agencies release the central and state subsidy only after a successful acceptance test and a joint inspection.
This is why a sloppy report costs you cash flow. If the SNA sends the file back for a missing photo or a discharge reading that does not match the duty point, your money waits. The neater the acceptance test, the faster the disbursement.
Pre-commissioning checks: mechanical
Mechanical checks confirm the site is built right before you ever switch on. Walk the site with a list and sign off each item, because a weak foundation or a shaded array will sink the test later.
- Borewell — bore tested, yield matches the pump duty point and depth record.
- Foundation — RCC foundation cured to strength before mounting load goes on.
- Mounting structure — plumb, level, bolts torqued, hot-dip galvanised as per spec.
- Module mounting — modules clamped, tilt and azimuth per design, and no shading on the array.
- Earthing — earth pits done, resistance within limit, lightning arrester fitted.
Pre-commissioning checks: electrical
Electrical checks confirm the system is wired safely and to spec before energising. Most failed acceptance tests trace back to a missed electrical check, so do these slowly.
- Cable sizing — DC and AC cable sized per the design and the spec, with low voltage drop.
- Controller / VFD — parameters set for the pump and the array, protections enabled.
- MC4 connectors — crimped correctly, seated, weather-sealed, no loose joints.
- Polarity — string polarity checked end to end before the controller is connected.
- Protection — surge protection, dry-run protection and over-current settings verified.
The acceptance and performance test
The acceptance test measures real water discharge at the rated head and compares it against the guaranteed discharge in the MNRE specification. This is the test that proves the system performs.
Run the test on a clear day with good insolation, because output depends on sunlight. The crew runs the pump for a defined period, measures the water output, and checks that it meets or beats the guaranteed discharge for that head.
What the test also checks
Beyond raw discharge, the acceptance test confirms no-load and full-load behaviour — the pump should start clean and run without abnormal noise or vibration. It checks MPPT tracking, so the controller follows the peak power point through the day. It also confirms the remote monitoring system is online and sending run-hour and energy data.
What readings to record
Record the raw numbers, not just a pass or fail tick, because the SNA and the report rely on the actual figures. Keep these in the commissioning report.
- Voltage — array and operating voltage at the controller.
- Current — array current under load.
- Discharge — water output in litres per minute or cubic metres per day.
- Head — the total head the pump is working against.
- Insolation — solar irradiance at the time of the test.
- Run hours — pump run time during the test window.
The commissioning checklist at a glance
Use the checklist below as a single sheet for the whole sign-off. Each row pairs the check with what good looks like and the evidence to capture.
Illustrative EPC checklist — confirm the exact acceptance-test protocol and evidence list against the MNRE technical specification and your state SNA order.
Geo-tagged photos and the documents the SNA wants
The state nodal agency usually wants geo-tagged photos plus the signed commissioning report and the acceptance-test readings. Geo-tagging proves the photo was taken at the real site, so it is not optional for most SNAs.
Capture clear, geo-tagged photos of the array, the mounting structure, the pump, the controller and the farmer at the site. Add the remote-monitoring proof — a screenshot or device record showing the system online. The DISCOM and SNA cross-check these against the report.
The joint inspection with SNA, DISCOM and farmer
The joint inspection is where the SNA or DISCOM and the farmer confirm the system together before sign-off. It is the human check on top of the report, and it is often a condition for the subsidy to release.
Schedule it once the acceptance test passes and the evidence is ready. The inspector usually re-checks the array, watches the pump run, and confirms the readings. The farmer signs to accept the system. Bring the full file so the inspection finishes in one visit, not three.
How to handle a failed acceptance test
If the acceptance test fails, fix the cause and run the test again before any sign-off. A failed report cannot carry a subsidy claim, so there is no shortcut — the system must reach the guaranteed discharge.
Common causes are low discharge from a wrong duty point, wiring or polarity faults, shading on the array, or a controller set wrong. Work the list, correct the fault, and retest on a clear day. Log what you changed, because the SNA may ask why the first reading differed.
How commissioning links to PBG release and the 5-year O&M
Commissioning starts the five-year operation and maintenance period and is often the point from which performance bank guarantee release is timed. The clock you start today runs for the next five years.
The EPC must keep the pump running and serviced through the whole O&M term, with the remote monitoring system as the live record. Many tenders tie PBG release to clean performance over that period. See our 5-year AMC and O&M guide and the EMD and PBG financials for the money side.
How SuryaHub helps your crew sign off cleanly
Commissioning lives or dies on the field, so SuryaHub puts it in your crew's hand. The SuryaHub mobile field app captures geo-tagged commissioning photos and runs the checklist offline, so a weak signal at a remote borewell never loses your evidence. The data syncs when the phone reconnects.
On top of that, SuryaHub project management runs each pump from order to acceptance test, then hands the site into the AMC and O&M tracker so the five-year clock is never lost. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every figure here is an estimate to verify with your SNA, tender or MNRE.
Capture commissioning in the field
See how SuryaHub captures geo-tagged photos and checklists offline at the site.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is commissioning in a PM-KUSUM solar pump project?+
Commissioning is the final stage where the EPC proves the installed solar pump runs and delivers water as promised. The crew completes mechanical and electrical checks, runs the acceptance test, records the readings, and signs a commissioning report with the farmer. Commissioning is the moment the system formally goes live.
Why does the acceptance test matter for the PM-KUSUM subsidy?+
The acceptance test matters because the signed commissioning report is usually the trigger that lets the EPC raise the subsidy claim. Most state nodal agencies release the subsidy only after a successful test and joint inspection. The exact trigger point varies by SNA, so confirm it against your state order.
What does the PM-KUSUM acceptance test actually measure?+
The acceptance test measures real water discharge at the rated head over a defined run period, then compares it against the guaranteed discharge in the MNRE specification. The test also checks no-load and full-load behaviour, MPPT tracking through the day, and that the remote monitoring device is online and sending data.
What readings should the EPC record during commissioning?+
The EPC should record array voltage and current, water discharge in litres per minute or cubic metres per day, the head, solar insolation at test time, and run hours. These readings sit in the commissioning report and back the acceptance test. Always keep the raw figures, not just a pass or fail tick.
What photos and documents does the SNA want for PM-KUSUM commissioning?+
The state nodal agency usually wants geo-tagged photos of the array, structure, pump, controller and farmer, plus the signed commissioning report, the acceptance-test readings and the remote-monitoring proof. The exact evidence list and geo-tagging rules vary by SNA, so verify them against your state implementation order before you start.
What happens if a PM-KUSUM acceptance test fails?+
If the acceptance test fails, the EPC fixes the cause and runs the test again before any sign-off. A failed test usually means low discharge, wiring faults, shading or a wrong duty point. The subsidy claim cannot proceed on a failed report, so the EPC must reach the guaranteed discharge first.
How does commissioning link to the PBG and the 5-year O&M?+
Commissioning starts the five-year operation and maintenance period and is often the point from which performance bank guarantee release is timed. The EPC must keep the pump running through the O&M term. Exact PBG release rules vary by tender and SNA, so the EPC should confirm the conditions in writing.
Sources & references
Commissioning steps, the acceptance-test protocol and the evidence list come from primary government sources. Always confirm the current process with your state nodal agency and the National Portal before you sign off.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Technical specifications and the commissioning / acceptance-test protocol for solar pumps.
- National Portal for PM-KUSUM ↗
Scheme guidelines, the implementation framework and component rules.
- MEDA / MahaUrja (Maharashtra SNA) — verify ↗
Example state nodal agency inspection and disbursement order. Confirm your own SNA rules.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, the PM-KUSUM National Portal & SNA sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The checklist, acceptance-test steps and evidence list are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Discharge, readings and trigger points are field estimates that vary by SNA, tender and MNRE specification — verify them for your project. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.