New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued the draft order for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar PV cells in a bid to boost the domestic industry which is expected to expand in the next two years. The list proposed by the ministry under the order will be effective from April 1, 2026. “With the installed capacity of solar PV cells in the country expected to increase substantially in next two years, it has been proposed to issue List-II of solar PV cells under ALMM, which shall be effective from 01.04.2026,” said the MNRE in an order dated September 7.
The order will exempt renewable energy projects where the last date of bid submission was before the issuance of this order.
“All projects that are covered under ALMM and would be bid-out, henceforth, including the projects bid out following the Guidelines issued by the Central Government under Section 63 of the Electricity Act 2003, shall have a clause in their tender documents / Request for Selection (RfS) documents that the solar PV modules and solar PV cells used in such projects shall be from the models and manufacturers included in ALMM List-I and ALMM List-II, unless the projects are commissioned prior to the effective date of ALMM List-II for solar PV cells, i.e. 01.04.2026,” the ministry stated.
In addition, the solar PV module manufacturers that feature on the ALMM List will also have to use solar PV cells from ALMM List-II to remain on the list, said the ministry. “The solar PV modules which are presently enlisted in ALMM List-I (for solar PV modules) and have their ALMM enlistment validity expiry date beyond 31.03.2026, shall also have to use solar PV cells from ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells) from 01.04.2026 onwards, failing which, they will be liable to be delisted from ALMM List-I,” the order said.
A solar cell is a single photovoltaic device, while a solar module is a group of connected solar cells. India’s current solar cell manufacturing capacity is around 6 GW. With the ALMM list, the government is aiming to provide a fillip to the domestic solar PV cell manufacturing industry. Since the solar PV module ALMM list already has a total capacity of 54 GW, the mandate to use ALMM list solar PV cells will provide a huge opportunity for the industry to expand. The government has asked industry stakeholders to send comments, suggestions on the draft amendment by October 6.
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