Indian module makers seek 2027 deadline for ALMM cell sourcing

The Renewable Energy Manufacturers Association of India, a body advocating for non-integrated module producers, has petitioned to push the deadline for procuring cells under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework back to December 2027.

The association notes that the presence of TOPCon modules in the open market currently stands at less than two per cent.

Unlike integrated companies that manufacture both cells and modules, non-integrated producers rely on the open market to secure their cell supply.

Capacity Gap

The Renewable Energy Manufacturers Association of India quantifies the supply shortfall by contrasting its members’ 160 GW nameplate capacity with the 95 GW of producible TOPCon module capacity. This gap exists because the ALMM lists only 15.8 GW of TOPCon cell capacity, a figure that falls far short of the input requirements for the association’s full output. The remaining TOPCon module capacity is utilized in-house by integrated groups, leaving non-integrated manufacturers reliant on the limited open market.

The ALMM List-II mandate, notified in December 2024, became effective on June 1 this year.

Regulatory Response

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy rejected a blanket extension of the June 1 compliance deadline in a May ruling. Instead, the ministry permitted case-specific relief for project developers facing unique circumstances.

In July, the government introduced a specific exemption for net-metering and open-access projects. These categories are exempted from the sourcing requirement until December.

The specific outcome of the representation made to Niti Aayog is unclear.

Background

• On 21 October, Luminity observed that CRISPL Ratings forecasts domestic solar cell production will only meet 50% of India’s projected 60–65 GW demand for FY27.
• A 16 October report from Luminity indicated that domestic cell nameplate capacity is slated to surpass 80 GW by late 2027, while noting that ALMM-III will start on June 1, 2028, extending local sourcing mandates to include ingots and wafers.
• These rules originate from the MNRE’s order dated 2 January 2019, which was modified on 9 December 2024 to introduce List-II for cells, taking effect on 1 June 2026, as detailed in Luminity’s ALMM guide.
• The first List-II announcement was made on 31 July 2025, setting 31 August 2025 as the cutoff for tendered projects. The 12th revision to List-II, published on 8 October 2026, lists registered cell capacity at roughly 37.8 GW.

Association Representation Details

The Renewable Energy Manufacturers Association of India, previously named the All India Solar Manufacturers Association, filed a petition with Niti Aayog requesting a bridging mechanism for cell procurement that is tied to both specific deadlines and material availability. The group noted that domestic module production has surpassed the supply of compliant cells, resulting in module-exclusive producers bearing the financial burden of this mismatch.

Compliance Timeline and Market Context

The mandate for major solar projects saw its compliance deadline extended from June to December, providing developers additional time to secure approved domestic cells. This adjustment followed the initial notification in December 2024, which established the framework for compulsory local sourcing. While the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy maintained the June 1 effective date for ALMM List-II in its May ruling, it allowed project developers to seek case-specific relief.