The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued clarifications on solar cells’ enlistment in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

The Ministry clarified that it will treat potential induced degradation (PID) and non-PID cells as different products or families and enlist them separately.

MNRE issued a draft in September 2024 to include solar cells in ALMM to address the growing domestic production capacity. Only solar modules were covered until now. List II under ALMM will be effective from June 1, 2026.

The Ministry also clarified that the produced cells’ data for efficiencies or wattages will be collected during the ALMM inspection. The data will be used to calculate the average efficiency and the same will be enlisted.

Physical ALMM audit will be optional for the following changes in cell attributes:

• Efficiency changes within ± 2% (relative)
• Dimension changes (L or W) within ±2 mm
• Thickness changes within ± 10 µm

Manufacturers must provide new declarations for process flow or cell raw material changes.

Some stakeholders asked about the process for adding solar cells with different temperature coefficients. They also wanted clarification on the tolerance amount allowed in the temperature coefficient value that does not require re-listing.

MNRE clarified that the temperature coefficient does not change much for a specific cell technology. It changes for different technologies. Different cell technologies must be enlisted separately by filling out separate application forms.

Reference solar cells will be calibrated per the International Electrotechnical Commission 60904 standards. Different cell types/ technologies/ dimensions/ PID/ non-PID product families will be included. There will be no family classification based on cell wattage or efficiency. Factory inspection will be optional for minor changes.

Recently, MNRE reduced the minimum module efficiency requirement under ALMM for modules used in off-grid solar projects. The minimum efficiency for crystalline silicon technology modules used in off-grid solar projects is reduced to 18% from 19%.