Seventh Revision of ALMM List-II for Solar PV Cells

Executive Summary

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has executed a strategic realignment of the domestic solar supply chain through the seventh revision of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II. While enlisted domestic cell capacity has surpassed the pivotal 30 GW threshold as of May 2026, a significant operational risk persists: domestic cell capacity currently addresses only approximately one-quarter of the total module assembly capacity (~100 GW). This briefing analyzes the regulatory mandates effective June 1, 2026, technical specifications of newly enlisted high-efficiency technologies, and the severe legal liabilities associated with non-compliance under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Capacity Analysis: Current and Historical GW Totals

India’s solar cell manufacturing sector has achieved a pivotal scale-up, crossing the 30 GW enlistment mark. However, industry analysis reveals a critical capacity gap. With module assembly capacity under List-I exceeding 100 GW, the domestic cell production infrastructure currently serves a fraction of total demand, leaving the industry exposed to supply shortages—particularly in high-efficiency TOPCon and HJT segments.

As of May 2026, the domestic production run rate is estimated at 20–25 GW annually. This is set against a total national installed solar capacity of 132.85 GW (as of November 2025), highlighting a steep reliance on imports to bridge the delta between domestic cell production and the 500 GW non-fossil energy target for 2030.

National Capacity Tracking Table

Key Manufacturers, Technologies, and Facility Specifications

The seventh revision prioritizes advanced N-Type technologies to address the “TOPCon bottleneck” currently affecting Commercial and Industrial (C&I) projects.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)

• Technology: Heterojunction (HJT) advanced solar cells (210 mm x 105 mm, zero-busbar, PID-free).
• Capacity: 1,238 MW per year.
• Location: Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• Performance: High-efficiency range of 25.40% to 25.60%; Power output of 5.60 Wp to 5.66 Wp.

RenewSys India Private Limited

• Technology: Bifacial N-Type TOPCon solar cells (Model: RESERV 71P).
• Capacity: 452 MW per year.
• Location: Ranga Reddy District, Telangana.
• Performance: Average efficiency of 24.62% (Source: Annexure-I); Average wattage of 8.24 W.

Jupiter Solartech / International Limited

• Technology: Mono PERC bifacial solar cells (P-Type, 182.2 mm x 183.75 mm, 10BB).
• Capacity: The seventh revision enlists Unit III at 991 MW/year. This complements Unit 1 (339 MW) and Unit 2 (440 MW).
• Location: Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
• Performance: Average efficiency of 23.70%; average wattage of 7.94 W.

Mundra Solar PV Limited (Adani)

• Technology: Bifacial Mono c-Si PERC Cells (Model: MSELM10B10).
• Location: Mundra, Gujarat.
• Specifications: Cell dimensions of 182 mm x 182 mm with 10 busbars.
• Performance: Efficiency range of 23.10% to 23.43%; average wattage of 7.71 W to 7.73 W.

Regulatory Framework and Compliance Mandates

The MNRE has finalized a tiered implementation schedule to transition the industry toward mandatory domestic cell sourcing.

• List-II Mandate: Commencing June 1, 2026, all solar modules used in government-backed or subsidized projects must utilize cells exclusively from ALMM List-II.
• Grandfathering Provisions:
  • Original Cut-off: Projects bid on or before December 9, 2024, were initially exempt.
  • Consolidated Deadline: Per updated FAQs (Sept 23, 2025), projects with a bid submission date on or before August 31, 2025, are exempt from the List-II cell requirement, regardless of commissioning date.
• List-I(a) Provision: A temporary sub-list created for modules utilizing non-ALMM cells. This list is valid only for the lifecycle of exempt projects and is not a permanent compliance route for new bids.
• Mandatory Non-Exempt Schemes: Certain Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) schemes are never exempt:
  • PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
  • PM-KUSUM.
  • CPSU Scheme Phase-II.
• Net-Metering & Open Access: Mandatory compliance for projects commissioned on or after June 1, 2026.
• Thin-Film Technology: Modules manufactured in integrated facilities already listed under ALMM List-I are deemed automatically compliant with List-II.

Non-Compliance and Enforcement Penalties

Regulatory enforcement has been significantly strengthened, shifting from financial penalties to criminal liability.

• Financial & Contractual Consequences: Non-compliance triggers the immediate cessation of government subsidies (VGF), forfeiture of all bank guarantees, and termination of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
• Administrative Blacklisting: Developers found in violation of domestic sourcing rules face a 10-year blacklisting, barring participation in all government tenders.
• Criminal Liability (BNS 2023): Under Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, misrepresenting the origin of solar cells to induce the delivery of government property or subsidies is categorized as a criminal offense.
• Director Liability: Legal exposure extends beyond the corporate entity; company directors can be held personally liable for fraudulent DCR certifications and deceitful procurement practices.