The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has drawn a firm regulatory line for India’s clean energy including the solar sector.
The ministry confirmed it will not grant any blanket extension for the implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II beyond the June 1, 2026, deadline.
Under this framework, all solar open-access and net-metering projects commissioned on or after this date must mandatorily source both modules and cells from government-approved domestic manufacturers.
The decision follows extensive consultations with industry stakeholders who were divided on whether domestic cell supply chains were ready for the transition. By enforcing the deadline, the government aims to protect policy stability, build long-term investor confidence, and accelerate complete domestic value addition.
To protect capital investments already deployed, the ministry introduced a transparent, conditional safety valve. Developers who have hit major project milestones—such as securing 75% land possession, achieving financial closure, or completing physical module delivery—can apply for time extensions of two to four months. All exemption claims must be filed digitally via the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) portal by June 30, 2026, for project-by-project scrutiny.
Enforcing List-II immediately alters the commercial landscape for Indian solar developers, particularly within the commercial and industrial (C&I) segments:
Compounding these impact dynamics, the Rajasthan Solar Association (RSA) has cautioned that a sharp structural deficit exists between India’s 220+ GW module capacity and its significantly lower 33.78 GW of approved domestic cell manufacturing. The association warned that nearly 60% of connected ancillary industries—including solar glass and junction box producers—face temporary supply chain disruptions.
Furthermore, RSA highlighted a critical technology mismatch: while project developers are shifting rapidly toward high-efficiency TOPCon technology, the current domestic manufacturing base remains heavily reliant on older Mono PERC technology.
“Such cases may be considered for appropriate time extension on a case-by-case basis, in a transparent manner, after objective assessment of the supporting information/documentary proofs provided by such developers,” the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), said in its official office memorandum.
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