In a fresh update that’s bound to shake up India’s solar project pipeline, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has tweaked its ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) rules for solar cells — offering relief for government projects, but putting tighter controls on private-sector ones.
The amendment, issued on July 28, clarifies that only projects bid on or before the cut-off date — one month after the ALMM list for solar cells is published — will be exempt from using ALMM-listed solar cells, even if their commissioning happens after June 1, 2026. Translation: if your bid came in early, you’re safe. If not, you’ll need to play by the new rules.
This updated rule aims to prevent chaos in government-backed projects already in the pipeline. Projects bid after December 9, 2024, but before the cut-off date, however, might end up stuck in a grey zone. That could lead to re-pricing, scrapped tenders, or change-in-law claims by Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies.
Interestingly, while the move gives some breathing room to public sector developers, private projects under net metering or open access get no such favour. The message is pretty clear: ALMM compliance is non-negotiable going forward — especially for the private sector.
The notification also reinforces that there’s no leeway for Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) schemes like PM-KUSUM or the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. For those, deadlines remain fixed: the cut-off is still pegged to exactly one month after the ALMM list for solar PV cells goes public.
With India’s solar module capacity at 91 GW and cell manufacturing still catching up at 27 GW, the relaxed timeline for government bids is a practical move. But the overall tone of the amendment leans hard into the push for homegrown manufacturing and tighter quality control.
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