The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has revised the minimum efficiency requirements for solar modules under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). These changes are applicable to offgrid solar power projects and applications, including solar lamps, streetlights, fans, and similar applications, where each solar module deployed has an individual capacity of less than 200 Wp. They exclude solar-powered agricultural pumps and rooftop systems. The new minimum efficiency requirement for minimum crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology modules has been reduced from 19 per cent to 18 per cent. The efficiency requirement for cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology modules remains unchanged at 18 per cent.
Additionally, these offgrid projects and applications will be placed under a separate list within the ALMM framework called ALMM List-I (DRE). This new list is distinct from the main ALMM List-I. Furthermore, the MNRE has also introduced a new fourth category named ‘Any other application,’ which includes projects that do not fall under utility/grid-scale, rooftop and solar pump, or offgrid projects and applications. For this new category, the minimum efficiency requirement is 19 per cent for c-Si modules and 18 per cent for CdTe thin-film modules.
The minimum module efficiency for utility and grid-scale power projects remains at 20 per cent for c-Si modules and 19 per cent for CdTe thin-film modules. Additionally, the thresholds for rooftop solar systems and solar pumps remain unchanged at 19.5 per cent for c-Si modules and 18.5 per cent for CdTe thin-film modules.
