Solar Cell Production To Come Under ALMM Soon, Says Pralhad Joshi

Highlights

• India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is preparing to expand the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) to include solar cell production. This move aims to boost domestic manufacturing and ensure top-notch quality in solar cells, further propelling India’s renewable energy goals.

• The move is expected to boost the domestic manufacturing.

ALMM Expansion to Solar Cell Production

The MNRE is set to introduce an ALMM policy for solar cell production, a move that is expected to significantly enhance the country's domestic solar manufacturing capacity. Currently, only solar module manufacturers are included in the ALMM, but soon solar cell producers will also be part of this regulated list. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, confirmed that the decision would be finalized shortly at the POWERGEN India 2024 event.

Impact on Domestic Solar Manufacturing

India’s current solar cell manufacturing capacity is around 6 GW, but the country’s ambitious renewable energy goals demand rapid expansion. With a target of 500 GW renewable energy by 2030—292 GW from solar power—the inclusion of solar cells in the ALMM is expected to provide domestic manufacturers with the assurance of offtake and boost their competitiveness.

The success of ALMM for solar modules has already proven that such policies can drive growth, and extending it to solar cells will further strengthen India’s solar energy ecosystem.

Rising Solar Cell Imports and Exports

Despite domestic efforts, India imported 15.6 GW of solar cells in 2023, a 169% increase from 2022. However, solar cell exports also saw a massive surge, rising to 286.3 MW from just 10 MW the previous year. This demonstrates growing demand for solar cells in both domestic and international markets, and the ALMM policy is expected to strengthen India’s position as a global solar manufacturing hub.

What is ALMM?

The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) is a catalog of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and their manufacturers that have been approved by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India. According to the ALMM guidelines, only the models and manufacturers listed are eligible for use in solar projects across the country. This includes government-funded or supported projects, projects under various government schemes and programs, as well as open access and net-metering projects.

In simpler terms, the ALMM applies to government-tendered utility-scale solar projects (such as those by SECI), rooftop solar systems under net metering, corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and government-backed initiatives like the KUSUM scheme. This ensures the use of certified, high-quality solar modules in these projects.