Standardizing the Domestic Solar Value Chain
In an Office Memorandum dated August 3, 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued a draft proposal to implement a standardized 14-digit alphanumeric nomenclature for solar Photovoltaic (PV) cell models. This regulatory framework specifically targets products enlisted under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II. The primary objective of the proposal is to eliminate the diverse and often opaque proprietary naming conventions currently employed by manufacturers, which hinder the uniform identification of technical characteristics. By establishing this common identification framework, the Ministry aims to ensure robust traceability across the manufacturing value chain and streamline the verification of domestic content.
Addressing Inconsistency in ALMM List-II
The ALMM framework serves as a critical quality and provenance gateway for India’s solar sector, divided between List-I (Solar PV Modules) and List-II (Solar PV Cells). While List-I is well-established, List-II has historically relied on model names furnished by individual manufacturers. This reliance on proprietary naming makes it difficult for stakeholders to verify the technical specifications and upstream material origins of cells used in finished modules.
The new nomenclature is positioned as a common identification framework for regulatory, commercial, and traceability purposes. This shift toward digital traceability comes at a strategic inflection point for the industry. India currently faces a significant supply squeeze, particularly in advanced technologies; while approved TOPCon module capacity stands at approximately 172 GW, domestic TOPCon cell capacity is limited to roughly 10 GW. Furthermore, with the industry maintaining a 90% dependency on imported wafers, a standardized coding system is essential for enforcing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) mandates and verifying the Bill of Materials (BOM) for schemes like PM Surya Ghar.
Technical Breakdown of the 14-Digit Alphanumeric Structure
The proposed system embeds technical parameters into a position-specific structure. Notably, the nomenclature requires a 4-character input for wafer sizes (Positions 6–9), necessitating a leading zero for 3-character sizes to maintain the mandatory 14-digit count.
| Digit Position | Technical Parameter | Code Description/Options |
| 1 | Wafer Origin | D: Domestic (Indian); F: Foreign (Imported) |
| 2 | Ingot Origin | D: Domestic (Indian); F: Foreign (Imported); Used for manufacture of wafer |
| 3 | Polysilicon Origin | D: Domestic (Indian); F: Foreign (Imported); Used for manufacture of ingot |
| 4–5 | Cell Technology | MP: Mono PERC; TC: TOPCon; HJ: Heterojunction (HJT); BC: Back Contact |
| 6–9 | Wafer Size | Must be 4 characters (e.g., 0M10, M10R, 0G12, G12R) |
| 10–11 | Busbar Count | Numerical representation (e.g., 10, 12, 16, 18) |
| 12–14 | Manufacturer-Specific Identifier | Denotes brand details, product variants, or revisions (e.g., ABC, R01) |
Decoding the Formula: Illustrative Examples
The MNRE draft provides specific examples to illustrate the interpretation of the 14-digit alphanumeric string:
- Example 1: DDFTCG12R16R01
- D: Domestic Wafer
- D: Domestic Ingot (used to manufacture the wafer)
- F: Foreign Polysilicon (used to manufacture the ingot)
- TC: TOPCon technology
- G12R: G12R wafer size
- 16: 16 busbars
- R01: Manufacturer variant/revision R01
- Example 2: FFFMP0M1010ABC
- F: Foreign Wafer
- F: Foreign Ingot
- F: Foreign Polysilicon
- MP: Mono PERC technology
- 0M10: M10 wafer size (utilizing the mandatory leading zero)
- 10: 10 busbars
- ABC: Manufacturer identifier ABC
Industry Implications and Regulatory Timeline
The implementation of this nomenclature is expected to significantly enhance the verification of the Bill of Materials (BOM) for solar modules. This system will be instrumental in distinguishing between ALMM List-I and ALMM List-I(a) solar modules, with the latter often associated with specific domestic content tiers required for government-subsidized projects. By encoding the origin of upstream materials—from polysilicon to wafers—the Ministry provides a transparent mechanism to support the DCR verification process, which is a prerequisite for central financial assistance.
This proposal is currently in the draft stage. The Ministry has invited industry stakeholders to submit comments and suggestions to assist in the finalization of the framework. Feedback must be sent to azmal.mnre@gov.in no later than August 13, 2026. Following the review of these submissions, the MNRE will move to finalize the nomenclature, establishing it as the unique identification standard for the domestic solar PV value chain.
Official Citations and Hyperlinks
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE): Office Memorandum: Request for comments on the proposed standardized nomenclature for Solar PV Cell Models under ALMM List-II. (August 3, 2026).
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE): Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Primary Page. (Contains all revisions of List-I and List-II).
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE): Office Memorandum: No blanket extension of ALMM List-II beyond 01-06-2026 (Subject to protection of investments already made). (May 25, 2026).
- National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE): National DCR Verification and Extension Portal. (Official portal for DCR certificate generation and List-II extension claims).
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE): Office Memorandum: Exemption from ALMM List-II for ‘Give It Up’ Category Consumers. (June 8, 2026).
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