The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has added a total of 4.8 GW of new solar cell capacity to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II, taking the total enlisted capacity to 17.88 GW.

Tata Power Renewable Energy (Tata Power) has secured approval for a facility with an enlisted capacity of 280 MW/year. The facility manufactures bifacial mono-crystalline PERC cells. The enlisted model achieves an average efficiency of 22.89% with a wattage of 7.54 W, offering a range of 20% to 23.5% efficiency, corresponding to 6.6W to 7.75 W.

TP Solar, a Tata Power subsidiary, has received approvals for two entries at its facility. The first enlistment covers mono-crystalline TOPCon bifacial solar cells, with an enlisted capacity of 53 MW/year. The model has an average efficiency of 23.3% and a wattage of 7.71 W, with an efficiency range of 22.5% to 25.5%, translating to a wattage range of 7.44 W to 8.43 W.

The second enlistment at the same site includes a capacity of 4.4 GW/year, covering mono PERC bifacial solar cells. The model has an average efficiency of 23.25%, with a wattage of 7.69 W, with an efficiency range of 22% to 23.7%, corresponding to 7.27 W to 7.84 W.

In August this year, MNRE issued the first ALMM List-II for solar cells, enlisting nine domestic manufacturers with a cumulative annual production capacity of 13,067 MW.

Recently, the government proposed mandating the use of India-made wafers and ingots under the ALMM starting June 1, 2028, to accelerate domestic manufacturing capacities across the solar value chain.

Starting September 1, 2025, all tenders require developers and installers to use solar modules compliant with the ALMM List -II for solar cells.

In July this year, MNRE exempted government projects mandated to use solar modules from ALMM List-I from complying with ALMM List-II for solar cells, if the bid submission deadline is on or before the cut-off date.