Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) Policy
Why in News?
The Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) policy is prominently in the news because the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced an extended relief window under ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells).
About ALMM Policy
- Quality & Sourcing Gating: It is a framework introduced by the MNRE in 2019 to ensure the quality, reliability, and domestic manufacturing source of solar equipment used in India.
- Dual-List Structure: The policy is divided into two distinct components:
- List-I: Specifies approved models and manufacturers of Solar PV Modules (effective since March 2021).
- List-II: Specifies approved models and manufacturers of Solar PV Cells (effective since July 2025).
Mandate and Coverage
- The compliance deadline for sourcing domestic solar cells for net metering and open-access projects was pushed from May 31, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
- Target Projects: Compliance is mandatory for Government Projects, government-assisted projects, net-metering systems, and open-access renewable projects.
- Procurement Rule: Any project falling under these categories must exclusively source components from entities explicitly registered on the ALMM list.
- Subsidy Linkage: It acts as a critical gateway for financial incentives, such as subsidy eligibility under the PM Suryaghar scheme.
Strategic Objectives
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: The overarching goal is to make India self-reliant in solar manufacturing and cut down heavy import dependence on foreign countries, particularly China.
- Value Chain Inclusion: Moving from just assembling modules (List-I) to indigenously manufacturing the core cells (List-II) integrates India deeper into the global solar value chain.
- Standardisation: The process prevents the dumping of low-quality or obsolete solar technology into the Indian market.
Recent Challenges & Industry Realities
- Supply-Demand Mismatch: Despite a steady rise in domestic cell production capacity, there remains a structural shortage of high-efficiency cells like TOPCon and HJT to meet immediate developer targets.
- Cost Pressures: Restricting imports can temporarily heighten project costs for small developers until local economies of scale lower domestic manufacturing prices.
