The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has relaxed the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) norms by allowing solar module manufacturers to enlist higher wattage models up to 3 per cent above the highest ALMM approved module without physical factory inspections, provided that the manufacturing facility, production line, machinery, and bill of materials like changes in module design, size, configuration remain unchanged, and the necessary documents are duly submitted and reviewed. The relaxation will only be provided if the base model was originally approved through a factory inspection process.
For module variants in which the increase in wattage exceeds 3 per cent, the National Institute of Solar Energy will conduct an online verification of I-V curve performance before considering them for ALMM enlistment. The relaxation is aimed at simplifying the approval of higher efficiency modules where increased wattage results primarily from improved solar cell performance rather than design changes. The new higher wattage models will be added to existing ALMM approved module families or placed in a new family if required under the permissible wattage range. However, the relaxation will not lead to any increase in the manufacturer’s enlisted production capacity, and physical inspections will remain mandatory for capacity expansion.
In an additional development, the MNRE has clarified that under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) scheme, consumers can also forgo the central financial assistance under the “give it up” option of the scheme. Residential rooftop solar consumers opting for net metering along with the “give it up” option will be exempted from the applicability of ALMM List-II up to the end of the scheme period, 31st March 2027. This exemption is subject to the condition that all such applications are mandatorily submitted through the PMSGMBY portal.
