MNRE opens one-month window for provisional commissioning of solar projects awaiting ALMM clearance

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has provided temporary relief to solar projects caught in regulatory uncertainty over the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II requirements, allowing eligible projects to be provisionally commissioned for a limited period.

In an office memorandum issued on June 23, 2026, the Ministry said projects that were installed before June 1, 2026, but could not be commissioned due to delays in obtaining ALMM-related approvals, may be granted provisional commissioning while their exemption requests are under consideration.

The clarification comes a month after MNRE ruled that no blanket extension would be granted beyond June 1 for compliance with ALMM List-II requirements. Following that decision, several implementing agencies, distribution companies and State authorities reportedly withheld commissioning approvals for projects whose exemption applications were still pending.

To address the situation, MNRE has allowed authorities to provisionally commission projects that have already applied through the Ministry’s portal seeking exemption from ALMM List-II and are awaiting a decision. The relief will remain available for one month from the date the memorandum is issued.

The Ministry said such projects may be allowed to generate, inject, wheel, bank and settle electricity under applicable regulations during the interim period. Authorities have also been advised not to withhold commissioning approvals, recognition of the commercial operation date, SLDC registrations, or open-access permissions solely because an ALMM exemption application remains pending.

The move is expected to prevent already-installed solar capacity from remaining stranded while the government processes pending requests related to the ALMM framework.