MNRE has fixed June 1, 2026 to implement the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List-II for solar PV cells
It will ensure that all module manufacturers and models listed in ALMM List-I use cells listed in ALMM List-II
Exemption is offered with caveats; new tender announcements to include the mandatory requirement
The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced June 1, 2026 as the date when it will implement the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II that specifies models and manufacturers of solar PV cells.
Earlier, it planned to implement List-II on April 1, 2026, when it invited stakeholder consultation on its draft amendment (see India Invites Public Consultation On ALMM For Solar PV Cells).
ALMM List-I for the approved list of models and manufacturers of solar modules already exists and is updated regularly by the ministry.
This will make it mandatory for solar PV modules used for all projects for and related to government entities from ALMM List-I to use solar cells from List-II.
Exemption will be provided to projects whose bid submission deadlines are on or before the issuance of the MNRE order. Such projects will use modules from List-I but will be excused from using cells from List-II, irrespective of the date of their project commissioning.
All fresh tenders issued by government entities post December 9, 2024, when the MNRE issued the ALMM List-II order, must include the clause that all solar PV modules and cells used for such projects must use models and manufacturers as listed in ALMM List-I and ALMM List-II.
Tenders issued before the MNRE order with the last date of submission after December 9, 2024 will need to be amended with this clause.
From June 1, 2026, only those solar PV modules will remain in the ALMM List-I that are made using solar PV cells listed in ALMM List-II, specifies the ministry. Manufacturers not abiding will be delisted from List-I.
Nevertheless, MNRE added that after May 31, 2026, it will maintain a new ALMM List-I (a) for such solar PV modules that are enlisted in the ALMM but do not use solar PV cells from List-II. Such modules will be used only for such projects that are mandated to use ALMM (List-I/List-I (a)) listed solar modules, but are exempt from using cells from List-II.
Net-metering and open access projects are also mandated to use ALMM List-I modules that use List-II cells. However, these will be exempt from using solar cells from List-II if these are commissioned before June 1, 2026.
Thin Film technology based solar PV modules enlisted in ALMM List-1 and manufactured in Integrated Solar PV Module Manufacturing units enlisted in ALMM List-1 shall be considered to be in deemed compliance with the requirement of using solar PV cells from ALMM List-II, it added.
Thanks to the growing demand for solar and the government’s supportive industry measures including the Production Linked Incentive, India’s solar PV module manufacturing capacity increased to 64.5 GW at the end of 2023, according to Mercom India Research. Solar cell capacity was only 5.8 GW back then, but with the ministry’s plans for ALMM List-II in September 2024, solar cell manufacturing plans are being announced steadily (see India Expanded Solar Cell Manufacturing Capacity By 2 GW In H1 2024).
.png?w=50&fm=png){kind=logo}