India Extends ALMM Framework to Solar Ingots and Wafers; To Come into Effect from 1 June 2028

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has expanded the ALMM Order to introduce ALMM List-III for Ingots and Wafers, effective 1 June 2028.

India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Order, 2019, is a quality-and-reliability framework that ensures solar equipment used in the country’s solar projects meets the domestic manufacturing standards.

ALMM applies to projects awarded through competitive bidding under Sec. 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and to net-metering or open-access projects.

Suitable grandfathering provisions have been built in to protect projects already in the pipeline. The current order of MNRE extends mandatory sourcing requirements from ALMM lists, already in place for modules and cells, one step further up the solar supply chain to include the ingots and wafers, which currently remain heavily import-dependent.

Since ALMM was introduced, domestic solar manufacturing has expanded significantly.

• ALMM List-I (solar PV modules) has grown from 8.2 GW in 2021 to around 172 GW currently.
• ALMM List-II (solar PV cells), introduced more recently, has already reached 27 GW within seven months, demonstrating the framework’s effectiveness in stimulating domestic investment.

Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Mr Pralhad Joshi, in a social media post, said that ALMM List-III is a decisive step towards strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem.

The Minister said that the ALMM for ingots and wafers will boost domestic production, enhance supply chain resilience, reduce import dependence, and ensure higher quality standards across the solar value chain.

Key Provisions

• Effective Date: 1^st June 2028 – the date from which ALL projects must use ALMM-listed wafers, including Net metering open access projects.
• Cut-Off Date: 7 days after the initial list of ALMM List-III for wafers is published. Bids submitted under the Sec 63 route after this date must mandatorily specify the use of ALMM List III-compliant wafers.
• Threshold for issuing the initial list: At least 3 independent manufacturing units (not under common ownership or control) with a combined capacity of 15 GW, ensuring the list is issued only when this minimum domestic supply is available.
• Mandatory ingot capacity: Manufacturers seeking to be enlisted in ALMM List-III for wafers must also have equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity, thereby promoting upstream integration of ingots.
• Module list integrity: Effective Date onwards, ALMM List-I (Solar PV modules) will include only modules manufactured using ALMM-listed cells and wafers. Separate lists will be maintained for grandfathered projects to avoid disruption.
• DCR provisions: This order does not dilute or override any Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions under the existing MNRE schemes.

Expected Benefits

Wafers are the critical intermediate stage between polysilicon and solar cells.

India currently has limited domestic wafer manufacturing capacity and relies substantially on imports.

The introduction of ALMM List-III is expected to:

• Drive investment into ingot and wafer manufacturing facilities in India;
• Improve supply chain security and reduce vulnerability to import disruptions.
• Ensure quality and traceability of solar components all the way from wafer to module;
• Create skilled employment in upstream solar manufacturing.

This expansion of ALMM for ingots and wafers represents an important step towards reducing dependencies and the country’s commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.