New Delhi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has said that an ALMM list for solar PV cells will be issued shortly by the ministry. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the POWERGEN India 2024, co-located with Indian Utility Week and Bharat Electricity, Joshi said, "An ALMM list for solar PV cells is in the pipeline and a final decision will be made shortly."
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) enlists models and manufacturers of solar PV modules complying with BIS standards and publishes them in a list, known as Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). This was done to provide a fillip to the domestic solar PV manufacturing industry and curb the import of Chinese solar modules and cells. So far, only solar PV modules were included in the ALMM list. However, the government is now working on releasing a similar list for solar cells as well.
The ALMM list was first released in 2021 by the MNRE but remained suspended until early this year as the domestic manufacturing capacity was inasufficient to meet the demand coming in from solar power developers setting up generation capacities. The government reinstated the list on April 1 this year, paving the way for the use of only government-approved models of solar PV modules in solar projects bid out by the government. Currently, the total capacity of the ALMM list for solar PV modules stands at 54 GW.
India's current solar cell manufacturing capacity is around 6 GW. Therefore, an ALMM list of solar PV cells will help expand the domestic manufacturing industry since it comes with the assurance of offtake. This is pivotal since India is targeting to put in place 500 GW of solar power capacity by 2030, 292 GW of which will be solar.
Addressing the inaugural session of the event, Joshi emphasised the significance of the event and the initiatives. “This platform is not just to showcase India’s energy revolution, but it is a catalyst for the global collaboration. We are gathered here to discuss one of the most critical missions of our time that is green energy transition. A platform like Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India and India Utility Week 2024 offers stakeholders an opportunity to explore the new trajectories, discuss the decarbonization, and obtain opportunities for sustainable and accessible energy," he said.
Joshi added, “Today, India ranks 4th globally in installed renewable energy capacity. India’s progress serves as a model for other countries, seeking the energy transition to the low carbon economy. To accelerate the transition, the government has taken several path breaking initiaves.” He further said, “The government has approved a substantial outlay of Rs. 7,453 crore to support the installation of 1000 MW of offshore wind energy projects,
"POWERGEN India 2024, Indian Utility Week, and Bharat Electricity, with over 200 exhibitors, more than 120 expert speakers, and 8,000 professionals offers a unique platform for global energy stakeholders to collaborate and explore the unprecedented opportunities within India’s energy landscape. The event is supported by key ministries, including the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, reflecting the Government of India’s strong commitment to the energy transition," said a statement.
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