With less than a week to go for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II mandate for solar cells to kick in, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has advised distribution companies (DISCOMs) to facilitate the timely inspection and commissioning of rooftop solar projects that are already installed or are likely to be installed before May 31, 2026.

The Ministry said it had received representations that delays in inspections and in issuing commissioning certificates for such rooftop solar projects could render them non-compliant with the ALMM List II requirement after June 1, 2026.

In an office memorandum, MNRE referred to its earlier order regarding amendments to the ALMM implementation guidelines for solar cells under which net metering projects and open access renewable energy projects must use modules listed in ALMM List I and solar cells listed in ALMM List II, unless exempted.

However, net metering and open access renewable energy projects that were mandated to use ALMM-listed modules but received exemption from using solar cells under ALMM List II, if commissioned before June 1, 2026, need not use cells listed in ALMM List II.

All net metering and open access renewable energy projects commissioned on or after June 1, 2026, must mandatorily source their solar modules from ALMM List I and solar cells from ALMM List II.

MNRE said delays in inspections and commissioning certificates for rooftop solar projects already installed or likely to be installed well before May 31, 2026, could make them non-compliant with the ALMM List II requirement.

It has advised all DISCOMs and other authorities that provide approval for inspection and issue commissioning certificates to facilitate the timely inspection and commissioning of rooftop solar projects.

The cumulative module manufacturing capacity under ALMM now stands at 193,143 MW, while the total enlisted capacity under ALMM List II now stands at 30,509 MW.