India’s Next Solar Leap: ALMM Expansion to Wafers and Ingots Effective June 2028 Signals Full Value Chain Integration

The Government of India has extended its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers, in a move aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing import dependence across the solar value chain.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced the introduction of ALMM List-III, which will cover wafers and ingots and come into effect from June 1, 2028. The policy includes grandfathering provisions to safeguard projects already under development.

Push for Domestic Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, described the expansion as a decisive step toward building a robust solar manufacturing ecosystem in India.

The move extends mandatory domestic sourcing requirements—already applicable to solar modules and cells—further upstream to wafers and ingots, segments where India remains heavily reliant on imports.

Officials said the policy is designed to boost domestic production, enhance supply chain resilience, and ensure higher quality standards across the solar sector.

Key Policy Provisions

Under the revised framework:

• Mandatory compliance with ALMM-listed wafers will apply to all solar projects, including net metering and open access, from June 1, 2028
• A cut-off date will be set seven days after the publication of the initial ALMM List-III, after which all bids under Section 63 must specify compliant wafers
• The initial list will be issued only after a minimum domestic capacity threshold of 15 GW is achieved across at least three independent manufacturers
• Manufacturers seeking inclusion must also have equivalent ingot production capacity, promoting vertical integration
• From the effective date, ALMM List-I (modules) will include only those manufactured using ALMM-compliant cells and wafers
• Separate provisions will ensure continuity for grandfathered projects
• Existing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) rules remain unchanged

Expected Industry Impact

The inclusion of wafers—considered a critical intermediate component between polysilicon and solar cells—is expected to address one of the weakest links in India’s solar manufacturing chain.

According to MNRE, the new framework is likely to:

• Drive investments in domestic ingot and wafer manufacturing
• Reduce vulnerability to global supply disruptions
• Improve traceability and quality assurance across the solar supply chain
• Generate skilled employment in upstream manufacturing

Part of Broader Clean Energy Goals

The expansion of the ALMM framework aligns with India’s broader push for self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and its target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Background: ALMM Framework Gains Momentum

Introduced in 2019, the ALMM framework ensures that solar equipment used in government-supported projects meets domestic quality and manufacturing standards.

The initiative has significantly boosted local manufacturing capacity:

• ALMM List-I (modules) has expanded from 8.2 GW in 2021 to approximately 172 GW
• ALMM List-II (cells) has reached 27 GW within seven months of its introduction

The addition of ALMM List-III is expected to further accelerate India’s emergence as a global solar manufacturing hub.