India Expands Solar Manufacturing Framework with ALMM List-III Covering Ingots and Wafers

India has expanded its solar manufacturing oversight with the introduction of ALMM List-III, bringing upstream solar components such as ingots and wafers under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said the new list will come into effect from June 1, 2028, extending regulatory oversight across the solar supply chain and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The ALMM framework serves as a quality assurance mechanism to ensure that solar equipment deployed in India meets reliability and performance standards, particularly for government-supported solar projects.

Under the existing structure, ALMM List-I covers solar photovoltaic modules, while ALMM List-II includes solar PV cells. The newly introduced ALMM List-III will cover upstream components such as solar ingots and wafers, bringing additional stages of the solar manufacturing value chain under regulatory supervision.

Only manufacturers and models listed under the ALMM framework are eligible to supply equipment for government-backed solar installations, net-metering projects, and projects supplying electricity to government entities.

The policy also supports India’s Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) strategy, which aims to strengthen local manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported solar components.

The framework includes grandfathering provisions to prevent disruption to projects already in the pipeline, allowing developers time to transition to the updated regulatory requirements before the new list becomes mandatory in 2028.