-The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) norms for solar module manufacturers in India.
-Initially started as a “non-tariff barrier,” ALMM aimed to promote domestic manufacturing by providing privileges in government solar projects, but was halted due to capacity limitations.
-The latest amendments require ALMM-listed module makers to comply with Bureau of Indian Standards standards and minimum efficiency levels.
-Earlier norms mandated minimum efficiency levels for different solar market segments, with the latest revision maintaining thresholds for crystalline silicon technology and proposing relaxations for Cadmium-Telluride thin film technology.
-Solar modules utilizing Cadmium-Telluride thin film technology must ensure minimum efficiencies of 19% for utility-scale/grid-scale projects, 18.50% for rooftop and solar pump sectors, and 18% for solar lighting projects.
-The ALMM list now serves as a database of domestic solar module manufacturers, detailing their capacities, models, efficiencies, and more, with regular updates by the MNRE.
Originally published on Saur Energy