Government Extends ALMM Framework to Solar Ingots and Wafers; To Come into Effect from 1 June 2028
Government Extends ALMM Framework to Solar Ingots and Wafers; To Come into Effect from 1 June 2028
Key Provisions
Expected Benefits
Background
MNRE has expanded the ALMM Order to introduce ALMM List-III for Ingots and Wafers, which will take effect from 1 June 2028. Suitable grandfathering provisions have been built in to protect projects already in the pipeline. The current order of MNRE, extends mandatory sourcing requirements from ALMM lists, already in place for modules and cells, one step further up the solar supply chain to include the ingots and wafers, which currently remains heavily import-dependent
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, said that it is a decisive step towards strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem. The Minister said that the move will boost domestic production, enhance supply chain resilience, reduce import dependence, and ensure higher quality standards across the solar value chain.
Strengthening India’s solar future ☀️🇮🇳
With the expansion of the ALMM framework to include ingots and wafers, India takes a decisive step towards building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem.
This move will boost domestic production, strengthen supply chains,… pic.twitter.com/MPyF1ANnXp
Wafers are the critical intermediate stage between polysilicon and solar cells. India currently has limited domestic wafer manufacturing capacity and relies substantially on imports.
The introduction of ALMM List-III is expected to:
This expansion of ALMM represents an important step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and the country’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Order, 2019 is a quality-and-reliability framework that ensures solar equipment used in the country’s solar projects meet the domestic manufacturing standards. It applies for projects awarded through competitive bidding under Sec 63,Electricity Act,2003 and for net-metering or open-access projects.
Since ALMM was introduced, domestic solar manufacturing has expanded significantly. ALMM List-I (solar PV modules) has grown from 8.2 GW in 2021 to around 172 GW currently. ALMM List-II (solar PV cells), introduced more recently, has already reached 27 GW within seven months, demonstrating the framework’s effectiveness in stimulating domestic investment.
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