Eligible net-metering and open access projects in India now have additional time to commission without complying with ALMM List-II, says the MNRE
The ministry has reiterated that ALMM List-II remains in force and that the latest notification should not be interpreted as a blanket relaxation
The extension is expected to ease project execution and inventory management while giving domestic cell manufacturers more time to scale up production
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India has opened a limited window for net-metering and open-access renewable energy projects, offering them an exemption from compliance with the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II.
In a new notification dated July 18, 2026, the ministry said the exemption will be available to projects commissioned by December 31, 2026. This is an extension from the previous deadline of May 31, 2026.
Under an earlier ruling, the ministry had specified that rooftop solar projects commissioned before June 1, 2026, under net-metering or open access and not awarded through bidding, are exempt from compliance with the ALMM List-II provisions. The ones commissioned after the deadline were allowed case-based relief (see MNRE Keeps ALMM List-II Deadline, Allows Case-Based Relief).
It has now extended the exemption window for net-metering and open-access renewable energy projects, allowing those commissioned up to December 31, 2026, to remain exempt from ALMM List-II. Projects commissioned after this date will be required to comply with the provisions under ALMM List-II.
In its latest notification, the ministry stressed that the decision does not alter the implementation of ALMM List-II and should not be viewed as a blanket extension. Instead, it provides a one-time transition window for net-metering and open access projects until December 31, 2026.
The ministry said the decision follows detailed deliberations with various stakeholders in the solar industry to ensure a smooth transition to ALMM List-II for net-metering and open-access projects.
“This step will also help the standalone solar PV module manufacturers by providing them protection of investments already made, in the form of inventories, through additional demand creation,” added MNRE. “This will also provide them sufficient time before they could effectively increase their sourcing of solar cells from ALMM List-II enlisted solar cell manufacturers, as the solar cell capacity in ALMM List-II continues to rise steadily.”
According to a June 2026 Crisil Ratings analysis, domestic solar cell supply is likely to meet around half of the 60-65 GW of demand this fiscal due to ALMM List-II (also referred to in the industry as Approved List of Cell Manufacturers (ALCM)). To meet the growing demand for domestically produced solar cells, manufacturers are investing in new and expanded solar cell production facilities (see Domestic Solar Cells To Meet 50% Of India’s 60–65 GW Demand).
The ALMM framework requires eligible projects to use approved solar PV modules under List-I, which must be manufactured using solar cells included in List-II. The latter came into force on June 1, 2026 (see India Brings ALMM List-II For Solar Cells Into Force).
Earlier, the ministry had clarified that government rooftop solar projects awarded via bidding remain exempt from ALMM List-II compliance if their bidding deadline was on or before December 9, 2024, or between July 28, 2025, and August 31, 2025 (see MNRE Clarifies ALMM List-II Compliance For Rooftop Solar).
The MNRE’s latest decision provides certainty and additional time for eligible net-metering and open access projects that were unable to meet the June 1, 2026 deadline to come online. It allows developers and EPCs to continue using existing inventories of modules made with non-ALMM-listed cells.
The extension may temporarily delay the ramp-up in demand for domestically manufactured ALMM-listed solar cells. However, it also provides manufacturers with additional time to scale up capacity before ALMM List-II compliance becomes mandatory for these projects after December 31, 2026.
The solar industry has responded positively to the deadline revisions. In a LinkedIn post, OSDA Solar’s Country Head-India, Parag Chamuah, said that 60%-70% of ALMM-listed solar module manufacturers have TOPCon lines but lack sufficient supply of TOPCon cells. This gives them breathing room to clear their existing inventory, while those who purchased non-DCR solar cells when prices were low can now clear their stock.
Ali Imran Naqvi, the Founder and Managing Director of Solar EPC at Sunvestar Green, said that the ‘industry pushback’ has landed. “A complicated, filing-heavy exemption regime has been replaced by a clean seven-month extension. Projects in the Net-Metering and Open Access RE pipeline now have real breathing room to procure, execute and commission.”
Several other stakeholders call it a timely, much-needed and encouraging policy move for the Indian solar industry that balances the country’s solar ambitions while ensuring a smoother transition to domestic manufacturing.
Meanwhile, the government continues to target June 1, 2028, to enforce ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers (see India To Enforce ALMM List-III For Ingots, Wafers On June 1, 2028).
