MNRE Amends ALMM Guidelines To Regulate Co-Branded Solar Modules And Extend Validity

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has announced an important amendment to its guidelines for the enlistment of solar photovoltaic modules under the “Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019.” The amendment, issued on August 7, 2025, introduces changes that mainly focus on co-branded solar modules and their validity period.

The updated guidelines now specify two cases for the enlistment of co-branded products. The first case remains the same as before and applies when both the Brand Owner and the Original Equipment Manufacturer are already listed in the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM) list. The second case is newly introduced and covers situations where the Brand Owner is not on the ALMM list, but the OEM is.

In this second case, certain conditions must be met. The Brand Owner must be an Indian company registered under the Companies Act, 2013, and must not own any solar PV module manufacturing facility anywhere in the world. The co-branded modules under this arrangement can only be supplied to Distributed Renewable Energy projects with a capacity of less than one megawatt. The application for enlistment will go through detailed scrutiny, including a physical inspection and verification of the manufacturing unit.

A key requirement is that warranties for the modules—covering product, power, and performance—must be jointly and severally provided by both the Brand Owner and the OEM. This obligation must be clearly stated in their co-branding agreement. The Brand Owner needs to submit the application to the MNRE along with a copy of the agreement with the OEM. This agreement must include details of both companies, the manufacturing capacity, and the validity dates of the arrangement.

Additionally, the Brand Owner must provide an undertaking confirming that the names of both the Brand Owner and the OEM, along with the location of the manufacturing unit, will be displayed clearly on each module’s label. The application fee for enlistment in this category is fixed at ₹1,000.

One of the most significant changes in the amendment is related to the validity of the ALMM enlistment for co-branded models. The enlistment will now expire on the earliest of four dates: four years from the date of enlistment, the date the co-branding agreement ends, the date of expiry of the OEM’s ALMM enlistment, or the date of expiry of the Brand Owner’s ALMM enlistment (if applicable). This is a shift from the earlier rule, where the enlistment was valid for only two years from the date of enlistment.

The MNRE’s amendment aims to strengthen the regulation of co-branded solar modules, particularly for smaller companies that act as Brand Owners without their own manufacturing facilities. By ensuring that warranties are shared between both parties and that proper inspection and documentation are carried out, the ministry intends to increase accountability and maintain product quality. These new rules are expected to influence how solar PV module manufacturers and brand owners enter into agreements and structure their applications in the future.