The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued amendments to the ‘Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) of Solar Modules (requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019.’

As per the amendment, only the models and manufacturers included in the ALMM list would be eligible for use in government projects, government-assisted projects, projects under government programs, open access, and net metering projects installed in the country.

This would also include domestic projects set up to sell electricity to the government under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

As per the existing regulation, the provision for the enlistment was the same, but it was not applicable for open access and net metering projects, which have now been included in the amendment.

MNRE has clarified that enlistment would also be necessary for projects under Component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

The amendment will come into effect for open access and net metering projects from April 1, 2022.

Last November, MNRE issued an updated list of models and module manufacturers under the ALMM order. Novasys Greenergy, Pahal Solar, Pixon Green Energy, Alpex Solar, Goldi Solar, and Vikram Solar’s new facility were the new entrants.

Earlier, MNRE had issued amendments to the existing provisions for enlistment under the ALMM order. The inspection fee for manufacturing capacity up to 50 MW was cut in half to ₹250,000 (~$3,418) from the existing ₹500,000 (~$6,837). For capacity more than 50 MW and up to 100 MW, the inspection fee remained ₹500,000 (~$6,837), and for capacity greater than 100 MW and up to 250 MW, it was set as ₹1 million (~$13,674). The fee remained ₹1.5 million (~$20,512) for a capacity greater than 250 MW.

In 2018, MNRE issued an order that specified the compulsory registration requirements of solar module manufacturers in the country. MNRE had made it clear that to be included in the list, the models and the manufacturers should get the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification under the ‘Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices, and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017’ and should have set up a manufacturing capacity for production in the country.