Centre extends exemption for select RE projects from sourcing solar cells from ALMM-listed manufacturers

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the relief given to Net Metering and Open Access renewable energy projects to continue sourcing solar PV cells from non-ALMM-listed manufacturers till December 2026.

The Ministry also reiterated that there will be no change in the implementation of the Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II for solar PV cells, and that no blanket extension of the applicability of ALMM List-II for solar power projects will be provided.

“However, a limited window is being provided for Net-metering projects and Open Access RE power projects, whereby such projects can now commission with exemption of ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells), till December 31, 2026. Earlier this dispensation for the limited segment of Net-metering projects and Open Access renewable power projects was available till May 31, 2026,’ it added.

This step will also help the standalone solar PV module manufacturers by providing them protection of investments already made, in the form of inventories, through additional demand creation, the ministry emphasised.

This will also provide them sufficient time before they can effectively increase their sourcing of solar cells from ALMM List-II enlisted solar cell manufacturers, as the solar cell capacity in ALMM List-II continues to rise steadily.

The decision is a result of detailed deliberations with various stakeholders in the solar industry to ensure a smooth transition to ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells) for Net-metering projects and Open Access renewable power projects, the Ministry added.

Solar PV manufacturing remains a significant focus of the Government’s efforts. The Government is committed to making India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in solar PV manufacturing and establishing India as a major player in the global value chain.

Last week, the MNRE also extended the deadline for renewable power project developers till July 23, 2026, to seek exemption from the ALMM List-II for solar PV cells, which came into effect on June 1.

On May 25, the Ministry had clarified that there will be no extension in the ALMM list for solar PV cells. However, to protect investments already made in the public interest, it allowed certain net-metering, open-access, and renewable energy power projects to be extended on a case-by-case basis.

Under this arrangement, the RE power project developers had to electronically submit their claims through a portal developed by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) by June 30, 2026.

“In view of the requests received in the Ministry for re-opening of the portal, the matter was examined in the Ministry and, it has been decided to re-open the portal for submission of applications up to July 23, 2026,” the MNRE said. Interested RE power developers who have not yet submitted their applications may submit the requisite claims/information through the NISE portal within the above-mentioned extended timeline, it added.

The mandate for ALMM for solar PV cells from June 1, 2026, helped push up manufacturing, with 5 gigawatts (GW) of capacity added during January-March 2026, JMK Research & Analytics said.