MNRE Mandates ALMM List-II for Solar PV Cells Effective June 1, 2026

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued an amendment to the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM) Order, 2019, operationalizing “List-II” for Solar PV cells effective June 1, 2026. This mandate requires that solar projects falling under the ALMM purview source both their modules and the underlying solar cells from ministry-approved domestic manufacturers. The directive is intended to expand domestic solar manufacturing capacity and reduce the industry’s dependency on imported upstream components.

Key Provisions: Technical Specifications and List-II Requirements

From June 1, 2026, all solar PV modules enlisted in ALMM List-I must exclusively utilize solar PV cells manufactured by entities registered in ALMM List-II. The enlistment process includes mandatory technical inspections of manufacturing facilities conducted by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) to verify production capacity and quality standards.

Primary Enlisted Manufacturers (July 31, 2025):

• M/s. FS India Solar Ventures Private Limited: Located in Tamil Nadu; enlisted capacity of 3,212 MW/Year.
• M/s. Mundra Solar Energy Limited: Located in Gujarat; enlisted capacity of 1,939 MW/Year.
• M/s. Mundra Solar PV Limited: Located in Gujarat; enlisted capacity of 1,893 MW/Year.
• M/s. ReNew Photovoltaics Pvt Ltd: Located in Gujarat; enlisted capacity of 1,766 MW/Year.
• M/s. Emmvee Energy Pvt. Ltd.: Located in Karnataka; enlisted capacity of 1,553 MW/Year.
• M/s. Premier Energies International Pvt Ltd: Located in Telangana; enlisted capacity of 1,174 MW/Year.
• M/s. Premier Energies Photovoltaic Pvt Ltd: Located in Telangana; enlisted capacity of 751 MW/Year.
• M/s. Jupiter International Limited: Located in Himachal Pradesh; capacity of 339 MW (Unit 1) and 440 MW (Unit 2).

Performance Metrics and Technology Standards: As verified through the enlistment process, the performance metrics for these cells, as claimed by the manufacturers, include average solar cell efficiencies ranging from 20.0% to 26.0% and power outputs between 6.69 Wp and 8.70 Wp. Under the updated framework, thin-film PV modules produced in integrated ALMM-listed manufacturing units are deemed compliant with the List-II cell requirement.

Compliance, Exemptions, and Grandfathering Clauses

The MNRE has established a transitionary framework to manage the implementation of List-II, including a mechanism for modules that fail to comply after the effective date.

• List-I(a) Mechanism: After May 31, 2026, solar PV modules that are enlisted in ALMM but do not use solar PV cells from ALMM List-II will be transitioned to a separate “List-I(a).” These modules will be eligible for use only in projects that are specifically exempted from the List-II cell mandate.
• The Cut-off Date: The official cut-off date is defined as August 31, 2025, occurring one month after the publication of the initial List-II.
• Project Bids: Projects where the last date of bid submission was on or before August 31, 2025, are exempt from the mandatory use of List-II cells, regardless of the commissioning date.
• Net-Metering & Open Access: Projects commissioned before June 1, 2026, are exempt from the List-II requirement. All such projects commissioned on or after this date must comply with both List-I and List-II.
• Ownership Transfer: For Net-Metering and Open Access projects commissioned before June 1, 2026, original ALMM-I compliance remains valid even if a transfer of ownership occurs on or after the June 1, 2026, deadline.
• Regulatory Scope: The mandate applies to all projects under Central or State Government/UT schemes (irrespective of central financial assistance) and projects selling electricity to the government under Section 62 of the Electricity Act.
• DCR Provisions: These orders do not relax existing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions. Schemes such as PM-KUSUM (Components B & C), PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, and CPSU Scheme Phase-II remain governed by their specific guidelines.

Domestic Manufacturing Landscape and Capacity Data

The operationalization of List-II addresses a discrepancy between domestic module assembly and operational cell manufacturing. Current industry data reveals the following parameters:

• Capacity Ratio: While India’s solar module manufacturing capacity is approximately 210 GW, operational cell capacity is recorded at approximately 27–28 GW.
• Import Requirements: Domestic cell capacity represents 15.3% of total module capacity, necessitating imports for the remaining 84.7% of module assembly requirements.
• Market Concentration: Cell manufacturing is highly concentrated, with the top 10 manufacturers controlling approximately 99.5% of the total domestic enlisted capacity.

Integration and Future Developments: ALMM Roadmap

The ALMM framework is structured to secure the upstream solar supply chain through a tiered implementation schedule:

1. List-I: Solar PV Modules (Currently operational).
2. List-II: Solar PV Cells (Effective June 1, 2026).
3. List-III: Solar Ingots and Wafers (Effective June 1, 2028).

This progression from module assembly to cell manufacturing and eventually to ingot and wafer production is designed to ensure technical reliability and supply chain independence.