The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has expanded the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) by adding 11,035 MW of solar module capacity. The cumulative module manufacturing capacity under ALMM now stands at 173,144 MW.

Startup Energy, Rajdeep Solar Energy, Army Solar Energy, Sahjanand Green Energy, and Best Apartment were new entries adding 1,034 MW, 194 MW, 622 MW, 193 MW, and 1,105 MW, respectively.

Insolation Green Energy, Solex Energy, Swelect HHV Solar (Swelect Energy Systems), Vikram Solar, Websol Energy System, Nithin Sai Renewables, and Macwin Solar Energy increased their enlisted capacities by 1,491 MW, 2,434 MW, 46 MW, 3,358 MW, 337 MW, 218 MW, and 3 MW, respectively.

In the last update, MNRE expanded the ALMM by adding 17,268 MW of solar module capacity. Recently, it also issued the fifth revised ALMM List-II for solar cells, adding 437 MW.

Citing concerns about limited operational Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) capacity and potential project delays, solar developers are asking MNRE to consider a time-bound extension of the mandate for the ALMM List-II, which takes effect on June 1, 2026. Under this mandate, only solar cells from ALMM List-II must be used in the manufacture of modules.

To ensure backward integration in the solar value chain, the government has proposed mandating the use of India-made wafers under the ALMM starting June 1, 2028. 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. The cells, in turn, must use wafers from ALMM List-III.

For enlistment in ALMM List-III, the wafer manufacturer must possess an ingot manufacturing capacity equivalent to the wafer manufacturing capacity that it intends to get enlisted in ALMM. Currently, India has no wafer or ingot manufacturing capacity.