The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has expanded the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) by adding 4,089 MW of new solar module capacity. The cumulative module manufacturing capacity under ALMM now stands at 54,706 MW.

Avaada Electro, Laxmi Solar Power System, and Uratom Solar were the new entrants to the ALMM, accounting for 554 MW, 121 MW, and 46 MW, respectively.

Tata Power Solar, Jakson Engineers, and SASA Energy increased their enlisted capacity by 2,697 MW, 662 MW, and 9 MW, respectively.

In a recent update to the ALMM Order, MNRE revised the guidelines for the inspection and final enlistment of provisionally listed manufacturers. According to the new rules, the final enlistment must be completed within two months of the application. If the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has conducted the inspection but MNRE has not yet received the recommendation, the provisional enlistment will automatically become final after two months.

However, the provisional enlistment will be revoked if the solar photovoltaic manufacturers cause an inspection delay. All deemed enlistments will undergo review, and NISE must provide MNRE with a report detailing the reasons for any incomplete inspections and procedures within two months.

After putting it on hold for a year, the ministry reimposed the ALMM mandate on April 1, 2024. Only modules from the ALMM must be used in projects that receive government subsidies. However, for projects where the solar modules were received at the project site by March 31, 2024, but could not be commissioned by that day due to reasons beyond the control of the project developer, the ministry will review such cases.

According to Mercom India Research’s State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India 2024 Report, the country’s cumulative solar module manufacturing capacity and solar cell manufacturing capacity reached 64.5 GW and 5.8 GW, respectively, as of December 2023.

The report forecasts that module manufacturing capacity will exceed 150 GW and cell capacity will reach over 75 GW by 2026.