Accelerating its push for creating domestic manufacturing capacities across the solar value chain, the government has proposed mandating the use of India-made wafers under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) starting June 1, 2028.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in a draft amendment to the ALMM order, proposes creating an ALMM List-III for wafers, on the lines of solar modules and cells.

Stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and suggestions by October 11, 2025.

The amendment proposes that all projects falling under ALMM’s purview must mandatorily source their modules from ALMM List-I. Such modules must also use solar cells from the ALMM List-II for solar cells. The cells, in turn, must use wafers from ALMM List-III.

As part of its backward integration drive for the manufacture of all components of the solar component ecosystem, MNRE announced last December that the ALMM List-II for cells will be effective from June 1, 2026.

The ALMM for solar wafers will not be issued unless it contains at least three wafer manufacturing units, which must operate independently and not be under common ownership or control, with an aggregate wafer manufacturing capacity of 15 GW a year.

The ALMM mandate for modules has succeeded in putting in place a robust manufacturing capacity in a little over four years. India’s module manufacturing capacity has crossed 100 GW. In August, the MNRE released the first ALMM List-II, which included a solar cell manufacturing capacity of 13 GW.

India currently does not have any significant wafer manufacturing capacity.

Wafer and Ingot Capacity Match

For enlistment in ALMM List-III, the wafer manufacturer must also possess ingot manufacturing capacity equivalent to the wafer manufacturing capacity that it intends to get enlisted in ALMM. Effectively, this means the wafer manufacturing capacity authorized under ALMM List-III will reflect the manufacturing capacity of both wafers and ingots.

Thin film technology-based modules enlisted in ALMM List-I and manufactured in integrated solar module manufacturing units will be deemed compliant with the requirement of using wafers from ALMM List-III and cells from ALMM List-II.

Exemptions

Projects with the last date for bid submission falling on or before the “cut-off date” will be exempt from using ALMM-listed wafers. The cut-off date will be one month after the first ALMM List-III for wafers is issued. The exemption applies irrespective of the project’s commissioning date.

Projects exempt from using ALMM-enlisted solar cells will automatically be exempt from using ALMM-enlisted wafers.

The exemption from using ALMM-III wafers will extend to projects under which the bid has been submitted or the power purchase agreement signed before the cut-off date, and then tender for engineering, procurement, and construction/solar module supply/solar cell supply is issued.

Projects covered under ALMM, with the last date of bid submission falling after the cut-off date, must include a clause in their tender stating that the solar modules, cells, and wafers used must align with the requirements of ALMM-I, II, and III.

Only those solar modules will remain in ALMM List-I that use cells from ALMM List-II, which in turn are using wafers from ALMM List-III. Module manufacturers who fail to comply with this condition will be removed from the ALMM List-I.

From June 1, 2028, the following three additional lists will be maintained:

• ALMM List-I (a) (for solar modules using solar cells and wafers not enlisted in ALMM)
• ALMM List-I (b) (for solar modules using solar cells enlisted in ALMM, but wafers not enlisted in ALMM)
• ALMM List-II (a) (for solar PV cells using wafers not enlisted in ALMM)

These lists will contain modules and cells catering to different project categories that are exempted from using ALMM-enlisted wafers but are mandated to use either ALMM-enlisted modules or cells.

Open Access Projects

Net-metering and open access renewable energy projects commissioned before June 1, 2028, will be exempt from using wafers from ALMM List-III but must use ALMM-enlisted cells and modules.

Net-metering and open access projects commissioned after June 1, 2028, must use modules, cells, and wafers from all three ALMM lists.

The ALMM List-III will apply to behind-the-meter and captive projects owned by government entities if commissioned after June 1, 2028.

The amendment proposes no exemption from the Domestic Content Requirement provisions with respect of MNRE’s programs like Components B and C of PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, and CPSU Program Phase-II.