Govt widens ALMM net to include solar wafers, ingots for new solar bids from 2028

The government has expanded its domestic sourcing mandate for solar equipment by introducing a new list covering ingots and wafers under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework.

Until now, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE's) ALMM included modules and cells.

The ministry on Wednesday said the new ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers will come into effect from June 1, 2028.

It has clarified "bids submitted under Sec 63 route, after this date must mandatorily specify use of ALMM List III compliant wafers".

However, “suitable grandfathering provisions have been built in to protect projects already in the pipeline,” the ministry said.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said India has taken a decisive step towards building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem with the expansion of the ALMM framework to include ingots and wafers.

“This move will boost domestic production, strengthen supply chains, reduce import dependence and enhance quality across the solar value chain, positioning India as a strong global player in renewable energy,” Joshi said in a post on X.

The ministry said that from the effective date, all projects will be required to use wafers listed under ALMM List-III.

It also specified that bids submitted under the tariff-based competitive bidding route after a cut-off date must mandatorily comply with the new requirement.

The government has set a threshold for issuing the initial list at a minimum of three independent manufacturing units with a combined capacity of 15 GW.

The MNRE clarified that from June 2028, ALMM List-I (solar modules) will include only those modules that are manufactured using ALMM-listed cells and wafers.

The order, however, does not alter existing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions under current MNRE schemes.

The ministry said wafers are a critical intermediate stage between polysilicon and solar cells, and India currently relies heavily on imports due to limited domestic capacity.

The introduction of ALMM List-III is expected to drive investments in upstream manufacturing, improve supply chain security, ensure quality and traceability of components, and create skilled jobs, it added.

India’s ALMM framework, introduced in 2019, is aimed at ensuring quality and reliability of solar equipment used in projects awarded through competitive bidding as well as in net-metering and open-access projects.

Since its rollout, domestic manufacturing capacity has expanded sharply, with ALMM-listed solar module capacity rising from 8.2 GW in 2021 to around 172 GW currently, while the recently introduced cell list has reached 27 GW within seven months, the ministry said.