MNRE Waives Physical Factory Inspections for Solar PV Modules with Up to 3% Higher Wattage

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), through Office Memorandum No. 283/39/2026-GRID SOLAR dated June 8, 2026, has introduced a significant relaxation in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) enlistment process. The update simplifies the approval requirements for higher-power solar photovoltaic (PV) module variants manufactured at the same facility. This reform is specifically intended to support the industry’s “ease of doing business” by reducing administrative delays when wattage gains result primarily from improved solar cell efficiency rather than changes in manufacturing infrastructure.

The 3% Physical Inspection Waiver Criteria

The Ministry has established a threshold where physical factory inspections are waived for module models that exhibit a wattage increase of up to 3% higher than the highest-rated model already enlisted from the same facility.

• This exemption is restricted to a one-time enhancement based on a base model that was originally enlisted following a successful physical factory inspection.
• Technical Example: A manufacturer with an ALMM-listed 540 Wp Mono-PERC model that underwent a physical inspection may enlist a 556 Wp variant without a new site visit. However, the manufacturer cannot use the 556 Wp model as a base for a subsequent 3% increase; any further wattage increments would require a fresh physical factory inspection.

Technical and Documentation Compliance

The waiver of physical inspection is strictly conditional upon maintaining technical consistency across the production line. To qualify, manufacturers must demonstrate that the following remain unchanged:

• Manufacturing facility, production line, and machinery.
• The Bill of Materials (BOM), which includes the module design, cell size, and cell configuration.

While the physical visit is waived, manufacturers are still required to submit all necessary technical documentation and supporting data for the higher-power models for official review and verification by regulatory authorities.

Procedures for Wattage Increases Exceeding 3%

In cases where a model’s wattage increase exceeds the 3% threshold, the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) will intervene. Rather than a physical site visit, NISE will conduct an online inspection. This virtual assessment focuses specifically on the verification of the module’s current-voltage (I-V) performance curves to ensure the reported power output is accurate.

Capacity and Family Classifications

The MNRE has clarified the administrative handling of these newly listed models to ensure regulatory integrity:

The inclusion of higher-wattage modules through this relaxed process will not result in any change or increase to the manufacturer’s officially approved production capacity.

New models will be grouped within existing ALMM-listed module families. However, if a model exceeds the permissible \pm 5\% wattage range criteria for its designated family, a new module family will be established. Any request to expand overall enlisted manufacturing capacity remains subject to mandatory physical factory inspections under the existing procedures.