ALMM Update- Solar Module Manufacturing Capacity Surges

India's solar module manufacturing capacity has surged over 58 GW while the MNRE clarifies that specific projects with prior approvals are exempt from recent regulatory changes affecting open access and net metering schemes.

October 15, 2024. By EI News Network

The solar module manufacturing capacity has now surpassed 58 GW following the latest update to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).

The list has seen the addition of 2,094 MW of new solar module capacity. This includes a significant contribution from SAEL Solar P6 Pvt. Ltd., which added 2,065 MW, while Grew Energy contributed 29 MW. This update brings the total number of companies on the ALMM to 93, a slight reduction from the 97 firms listed in the previous version. The drop is due to the removal of companies like Suryakamal Energy, ITI, SunField Energy, and Jyotitech Solar, whose manufacturing capacities were delisted from the approved list.

Three Gujarat-based firms received provisional approvals for their solar PV modules viz. Ganesh Green Bharat, with an enlisted capacity of 131 MW, has received provisional approval for its 13 additional solar PV module models. Unique Sun Power has been granted provisional enlistment for five additional solar PV module models, with a current enlisted capacity of 43 MW and an applied capacity of 200 MW per year.

Similarly, Credence Solar Panels has received provisional approval for two additional solar PV module models, maintaining an enlisted capacity of 500 MW per year, with the same applied capacity.

However, these companies, while provisionally listed, will need to comply with government guidelines and complete the necessary processes to secure their final enlistment in the ALMM.

In addition to the new entrants, established industry giants like, Tata Power Solar, Adani Solar, Waaree Energies, Renew, and FS India Solar Ventures contribute ~28,789 MW of solar module manufacturing capacity, playing a crucial role in India’s renewable energy landscape.

Alongside this ALMM update, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) also provided an important clarification about the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019, and its later changes. In a notice dated October 7, 2022, MNRE stated that the changes made on January 13, 2022, and March 28, 2022, will not affect renewable energy projects under open access and net metering schemes if specific approvals were obtained before October 1, 2022.

To be exempt from the 2022 changes, projects must have received approvals like in-principle approval, No Objection Certificates (NOC), government orders, or other necessary permissions from state or union territory authorities before the cut-off date. These approvals must also follow the rules set by the Central, State, or Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

The entities responsible for giving these approvals include distribution licensees, State Transmission Utilities (STUs), the Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd.(CTUIL), State and National Load Despatch Centres, Regional Load Despatch Centres, the Grid Controller of India Ltd., and State Nodal Agencies for renewable energy. These organisations ensure that renewable energy projects comply with the relevant state and central government policies.

MNRE stressed that any projects that received these approvals before October 1, 2022, will not be impacted by the earlier amendments. This clarification is meant to help stakeholders in the renewable energy sector understand the guidelines clearly, ensuring that projects with prior approvals can move forward without any issues.

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ALMM List-I for solar PV modules

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Ministry of New and Renewable Energy