MNRE has recommended higher module efficiency limits, aimed at includingonly efficient, good-quality modules
Proposed thresholds rise for c-Si and CdTe modules in 2027 and in 2028
The ministry says lower-efficiency modules will be removed once new limits take effect
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is contemplating raising the minimum solar PV module efficiency limit under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I.
It believes that raising this limit will ensure that only high-efficiency solar PV modules of good quality will be included in the list. It will act as a barrier for low-efficiency, obsolete technologies from being included in the ALMM.
According to the proposal, for utility/grid scale crystalline silicon (c-Si) modules, the module efficiency should be raised from 20% now to 21% from January 1, 2027, and 21.5% from January 1, 2028.
For cadmium telluride (CdTe) modules under the utility-scale category, the efficiency should be raised from 19% now to 20% and 20.5% in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Similar increases are also proposed for rooftop solar and solar pumping applications, as well as for off-grid distributed renewable energy (DRE) and other applications.
MNRE further adds that the minimum module efficiency limit is dynamic and will keep pace with advancements in the PV module manufacturing sector. ALMM is the Indian government’s supportive policy for solar PV companies manufacturing within India. All models and manufacturers included in the list are eligible for use in government or government-assisted and aided projects.
The MNRE draft, now open for stakeholder consultation, was launched on November 28, 2025. The last date to submit comments is December 27, 2025.
“The solar PV modules which are presently enlisted in ALMM or get enlisted in ALMM in next few months but have solar PV module efficiencies below the revised module efficiency thresholds proposed above, will be removed from the ALMM List-I for solar PV modules once the new module efficiency thresholds become effective,” states the ministry.
Nevertheless, commercial module efficiencies globally are much higher, having reached a maximum of 24.4% for back contact, 23.7% for TOPCon, 23.5% for HJT, and 21.7% for PERC on the TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing (see TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing – November 2025).