India’s MNRE Proposes ALMM List-III For Solar Wafers

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed an Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar wafers, similar to its existing lists for solar PV modules and cells. The ministry is inviting stakeholder feedback on the proposed mechanism. 

Currently, the ministry has imposed ALMM List-I for solar modules, while ALMM List-II for solar cells is to be implemented from June 1, 2026 (see India To Impose ALMM For Solar Cells From June 1, 2026).

A similar mechanism is now proposed for solar wafers in ALMM List-III. It will enlist only those wafer manufacturers who also have the ingot manufacturing capacity equivalent to the wafer manufacturing capacity that they wish to enlist in the ALMM. This means the enlisted capacity will actually reflect the manufacturing capacity of ingots and wafers. 

The ministry said ALMM List-III would only be issued once it includes at least 3 independently operated wafer manufacturing units. These units must not share ownership or control and together have a minimum annual capacity of 15 GW. 

The ministry specifies that ALMM List-III for solar wafers is to come into force from June 1, 2028, as the effective date. After this date, only those solar modules that use solar cells listed in ALMM List-II, which in turn use wafers listed in List-III, will remain enlisted in ALMM List-I. Failure to comply will lead to the delisting of module manufacturers from List-I. 

However, the ministry states that after the effective date, it will further split the lists in the following manner, to match project categories exempt from using ALMM-listed wafers but still required to use ALMM-listed modules or a combination of enlisted modules and cells:  

• ALMM List-1(a) for solar PV modules using solar cells and wafer not enlisted in the ALMM.  

• ALMM List-I(b) for solar PV modules using solar cells enlisted in ALMM, but wafers not enlisted in ALMM; and  

• ALMM List-II(a) for solar PV cells using wafers not enlisted in ALMM.  

Net-metering projects and open access renewable energy power projects that are commissioned before the effective date will be exempt from the requirement of using wafers from ALMM-III, but will still need to use ALMM-listed solar cells and modules. 

Such projects that are commissioned on or after the effective date will use solar PV modules, solar cells, and wafers from the respective ALMM Lists I, II, and III.

For behind-the-meter (BTM) captive projects owned by government entities, those commissioned before June 1, 2026, will be mandated to use ALMM enlisted solar modules, but will be exempt from using enlisted solar cells and wafers. Those coming online on or after June 1, 2026, but before June 1, 2028, will need to use enlisted solar modules and cells. All projects commissioned on or after the effective date of June 1, 2028, will mandatorily use enlisted solar modules, cells, and wafers. 

Thin-film solar modules made by approved manufacturers (ALMM List-I) will be considered in ‘deemed compliance’ to meet the rules requiring wafers from List-III and solar cells from List-II. 

Projects that are exempted from using ALMM-enlisted solar cells will automatically be exempted from using ALMM-enlisted wafers, specifies the MNRE proposal. 

Facilities that are mandated to use ALMM-listed solar modules and cells, with bids submitted on or before the cut-off date – one month after the first ALMM wafer list is issued – will be exempt from using ALMM-listed wafers, regardless of their commissioning date. 

Projects with bids submitted or PPAs signed before the cut-off date – even if tenders for EPC, module, or cell supply are issued later – will remain exempt from using ALMM-listed wafers. However, all projects with bid deadlines after the cut-off date must source modules, cells, and wafers from ALMM Lists I, II, and III, respectively.

Stakeholder views, comments, and suggestions on MNRE’s proposed draft will be accepted till October 11, 2025. 

ALMM List-I for solar modules has been instrumental in boosting India’s module manufacturing capacity from 2.4 GW in 2014 to exceeding 100 GW in August 2025, and is expected to expand to an estimated 190 GW DC by FY 2027, according to a recent SBICAPS report. India’s current solar cell capacity is only 26 GW DC, but growing steadily, while the target for wafer capacity is 40 GW by March 2027. In the report, the analysts said that India is currently unprepared for an ALMM for wafers/ingots (see 190 GW DC Solar Module Milestone May Push India Into Oversupply).