New Delhi, March 18: The central government has announced an expansion of the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) framework for solar ingots and wafers, effective from June 1, 2028. This initiative aims to enhance domestic value addition in the solar supply chain, reduce import dependency, and strengthen India’s ambition to become a global hub for solar energy production.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has included ALMM List-3 for ingots and wafers in this expansion, which will also take effect on June 1, 2028. Provisions have been made to safeguard ongoing projects. Under this order, mandatory sourcing requirements for modules and cells have now been extended to include ingots and wafers, which currently rely heavily on imports.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, stated that this is a decisive step towards strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem. He emphasized that this move will boost domestic production, enhance supply chain resilience, reduce import reliance, and ensure high-quality standards in the solar value chain.
Effective from June 1, 2028, all projects, including net metering/open access projects, will be required to use ALMM-listed wafers.
The cutoff date for compliance will be seven days after the initial publication of ALMM List-3 for wafers. After this date, bids submitted under Section 63 must specify the use of wafers compliant with ALMM List-3.
The deadline for releasing the initial list requires at least three independent manufacturing units (not under the same ownership or control) with a combined capacity of 15 gigawatts, ensuring that the list is published only when minimum domestic supply is available.
Manufacturers wishing to be listed under ALMM List-3 for wafers must also possess equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity, promoting upstream integration for ingots.
Regarding module integrity, only those modules manufactured using ALMM-listed cells and wafers will be included in ALMM List-1 (solar PV modules) from the effective date. Separate lists will be maintained for pre-established projects to avoid disruptions.
The DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) provisions state that this order does not weaken or repeal any domestic material requirement provisions under existing MNRE schemes.
Currently, the wafer manufacturing capacity in India is limited and largely dependent on imports. The implementation of ALMM List-3 is expected to stimulate investment in ingot and wafer manufacturing facilities in India, improve supply chain security, and reduce sensitivity to import disruptions. It will also ensure quality and traceability of solar components from wafers to modules, creating skilled employment in the early stages of solar manufacturing.
This expansion of ALMM is a significant step towards achieving a self-reliant India and reflects the country’s commitment to reach 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
The ALMM order, established in 2019, provides a framework for quality and reliability, ensuring that solar equipment used in the country’s solar projects meets domestic manufacturing standards. It applies to projects allocated through competitive bidding under Section 63 of the Electricity Act 2003 and net metering or open-access projects.
Since the introduction of ALMM, there has been a remarkable increase in domestic solar manufacturing. ALMM List-1 (solar PV modules) has surged from 8.2 gigawatts in 2021 to nearly 172 gigawatts currently. ALMM List-2 (solar PV cells), recently launched, has reached 27 gigawatts within just seven months, demonstrating the framework’s effectiveness in encouraging domestic investment.
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