The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), on January 2, 2019, issued the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirement of Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019 (ALMM Order). As per the ALMM Order, only the models and manufacturers (of solar PV modules) included in ALMM List were eligible for use in Government projects/Government assisted projects/projects against Government schemes and Programmes installed in the country, including projects set up for sale of electricity to government under competitive bidding guidelines. The effective date of implementation of the ALMM Order was 31 March 2020.
The timelines for implementation of the ALMM Order were extended/modified by the MNRE by order dated March 28, 2022, with a new applicability date of October 1, 2022.
However, in light of the significant gap between Indian module manufacturing capacity and requirement, the MNRE, by office memorandum dated March 10, 2023 kept the compliance with the ALMM Order in abeyance for one financial year i.e., financial year 2023-2024. Hence, all projects commissioned till March 31, 2024 were exempted from procuring modules from the ALMM List of solar PV Modules.
Now however, by order dated March 9, 2024, the MNRE reimposed the ALMM Order with exemptions for projects set up under open access solar and those in advanced stages of construction and rooftop solar projects with no subsidy. That said, this order was withheld by the MNRE subsequently.
In its latest order dated March 31, 2024, the MNRE has re-imposed the ALMM Order for solar photovoltaic modules from April 1, 2024 with no exemptions. However, while re-imposing the order from April, the MNRE stated that “Each project where the solar PV modules have been received at the project site by March 31, 2024 and is unable to get commissioned by that day, on account of reasons beyond the control of the renewable power developer, would be examined separately.”