MNRE Boosts Solar Module Capacity to 37,421 MW with Significant ALMM Update

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has made a significant update to its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), incorporating 3,501 MW of new solar module capacity, bringing the total to 37,421 MW. This expansion includes major contributions from Tata Power Solar and Goldi Solar, with 2,525 MW and 976 MW added, respectively, elevating the number of module manufacturers on the ALMM to 81. Notably, the list still does not feature any foreign manufacturers.

In a move to enhance the diversity and efficiency of solar modules for government projects, MNRE has now included cadmium telluride thin film-based models alongside the traditional crystalline-silicon models. This addition comes with specific efficiency benchmarks: 19% for grid-scale power projects, 18.5% for rooftop and solar pumping projects, and 18% for solar lighting. As a result, only modules with efficiencies of 18% or above have been considered for enlistment under ALMM List-1 as of March 22, 2024.

Credence Solar Panels received provisional approval for its range of high-capacity Bifacial Mono c-Si PERC solar modules, with the 670W module setting a new high for enlisted module capacity. The provisional ALMM enlistment process has been streamlined to grant approval within seven days of receiving BIS certification, followed by a two-month period for factory inspection and final enlistment.

Moreover, the MNRE has suspended the ALMM order for the financial year 2023-24, exempting projects commissioned by March 31, 2024, from the requirement to use ALMM-listed solar modules, marking a transitional period for the industry.