The government on Wednesday announced the expansion of the Advanced List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) scheme to cover solar ingots and wafers. The scheme, aimed at making domestic manufacturing of solar equipment mandatory for projects, already covers solar cells and modules.
MNRE has expanded the ALMM order to introduce ALMM List-III for ingots and wafers. At present, domestic sourcing of solar modules is mandatory. For solar cells, the ALMM list will be effective in June this year. ALMM-III ensures further backward integration in the solar supply chain to include ingots and wafers, which are currently heavily import dependent.
The initial list will be issued when at least three manufacturers with a combined capacity of 15 gigawatt (GW) are available. MNRE said that manufacturers seeking enlistment in ALMM List-III for wafers must also have equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity.
The introduction of ALMM List-III is expected to ensure quality and traceability of solar components all the way from wafer to module and create skilled employment in upstream solar manufacturing, the ministry said.
Commenting on the development, Emmvee Group CEO Suhas Donthi said a significant portion of upstream components in the solar supply chain are import dependent. “This policy is a critical step towards building a truly self-reliant and integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem,” he said.
Another industry executive said the new policy vindicates the foresight of companies that invested early in integrated, end-to-end domestic manufacturing.
“It is more than a regulatory change. It is a bold affirmation that India is determined to own its solar supply chain, cut import dependence, and generate high-quality manufacturing jobs at scale,” said Prashant Mathur, CEO, Saatvik Green Energy.
India’s original ALMM Order issued in 2019 applies to projects awarded through competitive bidding under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and to net-metering or open-access projects. ALMM for solar PV modules has grown to cover around 172 GW capacity currently. For solar cells, the capacity under ALMM has reached 27 GW.
The policy will accelerate the development of a self-reliant upstream manufacturing base as domestic capacity for wafers and ingots is at a very nascent stage at present, with negligible production levels, according to Gautam Mohanka, Director, Gautam Solar.
“We expect this to scale up rapidly over the next 2-3 years as new capacities come online. This transition will enhance supply chain resilience and reduce import dependence, supporting the growth of a stable and globally competitive solar manufacturing ecosystem,” he said.
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