ALMM covered modules. ALMM-II covers cells. With the MNRE's domestic manufacturing push in 2026, this distinction now determines tender eligibility, ISTS waiver access, and investor confidence.
ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) was introduced by the MNRE to ensure that only tested, domestically compliant solar modules could be used in government-funded or grid-connected projects in India. ALMM-II extends this mandate to solar cells — the individual photovoltaic conversion layers that are assembled into modules.
This distinction matters enormously in practice. Before ALMM-II, a manufacturer could import Chinese cells, encapsulate them into modules in India, and qualify for ALMM under the "Made in India" label. ALMM-II closes that gap: the cells themselves must come from an MNRE-approved domestic manufacturer. From 2026 onwards, projects using non-ALMM-II-listed cells face disqualification from key benefits.
| Benefit | ALMM (modules) required | ALMM-II (cells) required |
|---|---|---|
| SECI / NTPC tenders | Yes | Yes (from April 2025) |
| ISTS waiver for renewable energy | Yes | Yes |
| State DISCOM PPAs (most states) | Yes | Increasingly required |
| PM-KUSUM scheme | Yes | Yes |
| PLI scheme benefits for manufacturer | N/A | Core eligibility criterion |
| C&I / private PPA (no govt funding) | Recommended | Investor diligence expectation |
For privately funded C&I projects without any government scheme linkage, ALMM-II is not a legal mandate — but it is rapidly becoming a commercial standard: institutional investors and large industrial off-takers now include ALMM-II compliance in their term sheets as a risk-mitigation requirement, because non-compliant cells carry resale and refinancing risk if the project is later brought into a government scheme.
As of early 2026, the MNRE's ALMM-II list includes cells from Tata Power Solar, Waaree Energies, Adani Solar (Mundra), Premier Energies, and Vikram Solar among the larger producers. Combined, their annual cell capacity is approximately 8–10 GW — sufficient to supply most India-based projects at current build rates, but with delivery lead times of 8–16 weeks for large orders. Always verify current list status directly with MNRE before signing a procurement contract, as the list is updated quarterly.
In 2024, ALMM-II cells commanded a premium of $0.04–$0.06/Wp over comparable imported cells. By early 2026, PLI-backed capacity expansion has compressed this to $0.01–$0.03/Wp on typical module specifications. On a 1 MW plant, this translates to an incremental cost of ₹80,000–₹2.4 lakh — a rounding error against total EPC cost of ₹3.6–₹4.2 crore. The cost of non-compliance (tender disqualification, ISTS waiver loss, investor pushback) is orders of magnitude larger.
If you are evaluating a solar project — particularly a pre-commissioning opportunity or a project in the SECI/NTPC pipeline — ask the developer explicitly: "Are the cells ALMM-II listed?" A reputable developer will provide the MNRE list reference number. If they cannot, the project carries regulatory tail risk that should be priced into your return expectation or excluded from the portfolio.
Wattency's vetting process includes an ALMM-II compliance check as a mandatory gate. No project reaches the marketplace without a verified cell origin confirmation from our technical team.