The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has expanded the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework by introducing a seven-day cut-off window after the publication of the initial solar wafers list to determine project exemptions.

The ALMM for solar wafers takes effect on June 1, 2028.

Projects that submit bids before this defined cut-off date can avoid using ALMM-listed wafers, even if they are commissioned after the effective date. The cut-off is linked to the issuance of the initial ALMM wafer list and the last date of bid submission. Projects that have already signed power purchase agreements or submitted bids before this point will remain exempt from wafer sourcing requirements.

For projects commissioned after June 1, 2028, compliance becomes mandatory across all three levels. These projects must use modules, cells, and wafers sourced from the respective ALMM lists. Projects commissioned before the effective date will not be subject to wafer requirements, although existing obligations for modules and cells will continue to apply.

Under the revised structure, projects covered by ALMM must source solar modules from ALMM List-I, cells from ALMM List-II, and wafers from the new List-III. This creates a fully traceable domestic supply chain from wafers to finished modules.

The notification sets stringent eligibility criteria for wafer manufacturers applying for enlistment. Only manufacturers with at least three independent wafer manufacturing units and an aggregate capacity of 15 GW per year qualify. They must also have ingot manufacturing capacity equivalent to their wafer capacity, ensuring deeper backward integration.

The notification outlines specific treatment for different project categories. Open access and net metering projects commissioned before the effective date remain exempt from wafer requirements, while those commissioned after the effective date must comply fully. Behind-the-meter captive projects owned by government entities will follow a phased approach, with full compliance required only after the effective date.

The framework also maintains separate classifications for modules and cells that use non-ALMM components, allowing flexibility for projects that do not have to use the full domestic supply chain.

The policy grants a deemed compliance status to thin-film solar modules manufactured in integrated facilities and already enlisted under ALMM List-I, and will be treated as compliant with wafer sourcing requirements. At the same time, the government has clarified that the domestic content requirements under existing programs will remain unchanged.

The ALMM framework was originally introduced in 2019 to regulate the quality and origin of solar modules used in government-backed projects. It was later expanded to include solar cells. With the inclusion of wafers, the policy now addresses a key gap in the upstream supply chain, where India has remained heavily dependent on imports.

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