ALMM 2025โ26: The Complete Guide
to India's Approved Solar Manufacturers
Everything EPCs, developers, and procurement professionals need to know about MNRE's Approved List of Models & Manufacturers โ List-I modules, List-II cells, compliance timelines, and how to source right.
- 1.What is ALMM and Why Does It Exist?
- 2.List-I: Approved Module Manufacturers (144 GW+)
- 3.List-II: Approved Cell Manufacturers (26.7 GW)
- 4.Top 10 Manufacturers You Must Know
- 5.ALMM Compliance: Who Must Follow It?
- 6.Key Dates & Regulatory Timeline
- 7.Technology Breakdown: PERC vs TOPCon vs HJT
- 8.How to Source ALMM-Certified Modules
- 9.Interactive ALMM Database Tool
- 10.Frequently Asked Questions
India's solar energy ambition โ 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 โ rests on one foundational question: where do the panels come from, and are they good enough? The ALMM (Approved List of Models & Manufacturers) is MNRE's answer. It is a quality gate, a domestic manufacturing catalyst, and a procurement compliance framework all rolled into one.
01 / INTRODUCTIONWhat is ALMM and Why Does It Exist?
The Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) is a regulatory framework introduced by MNRE under the "Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019." The first List-I (modules) was published on March 10, 2021.
Only manufacturers whose products appear on this list are eligible to supply solar modules and cells for government projects, government-assisted projects, open access schemes, and net-metering projects in India.
Before ALMM, India's solar sector was flooded with low-quality, uncertified imports โ particularly from China โ which led to project failures, lower efficiencies, and massive financial losses. ALMM creates accountability: every module on a government project is traceable to a verified, BIS-certified, tested manufacturer.
The Three-Layer ALMM Architecture
MNRE has structured ALMM as a progressive supply-chain framework with three lists coming into force over time:
| List | Covers | First Published | Mandatory From | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List-I | Solar PV Modules | March 10, 2021 | April 10, 2021 | โ Active |
| List-II | Solar PV Cells | July 31, 2025 | June 1, 2026 | โณ Transition |
| List-III | Solar PV Wafers | Expected 2028 | June 1, 2028 (draft) | ๐ Draft |
"The ALMM is not just a quality list โ it is the single most powerful lever India has used to indigenise its solar supply chain, growing domestic module capacity from near zero to 144 GW in four years."
โ Headsup B2B Procurement Research, 2025
02 / LIST-IApproved Module Manufacturers โ 144 GW and Growing
As of December 22, 2025, ALMM List-I covers 100+ module manufacturers with a combined enlisted capacity of 144,841 MW (~145 GW). This represents staggering growth from ~19 GW in early 2023, driven by the PLI scheme and BCD on imported cells and modules.
December 2025 saw a record single-month addition of 23,119 MW, with six new manufacturers entering including Znshine Solarworld (1,552 MW), Inox Solar (1,274 MW), and Frontier Energy (548 MW).
Minimum Efficiency Thresholds
| Category | Application | Min Efficiency | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category I (Utility) | Ground-mount, large-scale | โฅ 20.0% | Mono c-Si |
| Category II (Rooftop) | Commercial / Industrial rooftop | โฅ 19.5% | Mono c-Si |
| Off-Grid | Solar lamps, fans, lights | Lower threshold (amended) | Any |
03 / LIST-IIApproved Cell Manufacturers โ The New Frontier
ALMM List-II for solar PV cells is India's next strategic frontier. First published on July 31, 2025, it currently covers 10 manufacturers with a combined capacity of 26,790 MW. The mandate becomes compulsory from June 1, 2026.
Projects with bid submission on or before Aug 31, 2025: ALMM List-II (cells) not mandatory even if commissioned after Jun 1, 2026.
Projects with bid submission after Aug 31, 2025: Must comply with List-II, even if commissioned before Jun 1, 2026.
Current List-II Manufacturers (as of Feb 2026)
| # | Manufacturer | Technology | Capacity (MW) | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waaree Energies | Mono PERC + TOPCon | 5,251 MW | Gujarat |
| 2 | Tata Power (TP Solar + TPREL) | Mono PERC + TOPCon | 4,813 MW | Tamil Nadu / Karnataka |
| 3 | Adani Solar (Mundra) | Mono PERC + TOPCon | 4,237 MW | Gujarat |
| 4 | FS India (First Solar) | CdTe Thin Film | 3,433 MW | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | Premier Energies | Mono PERC + TOPCon | 3,283 MW | Telangana |
| 6 | Emmvee Energy | TOPCon Bifacial | 1,553 MW | Karnataka |
| 7 | ReNew Photovoltaics | Mono PERC Bifacial | 1,766 MW | Rajasthan |
| 8 | Jupiter International | Mono PERC Bifacial | 779 MW | Karnataka |
| 9 | Websol Energy Systems | Mono PERC Bifacial | 602 MW | West Bengal |
| 10 | Evervolt Solar Technology India | Mono PERC Bifacial | 1,074 MW | Andhra Pradesh |
04 / MANUFACTURERSTop 10 ALMM Manufacturers You Must Know
The top five players (Waaree, Tata Power, Avaada, Adani, Emmvee) account for roughly 45% of all enlisted module capacity. Here are the manufacturers that matter most for procurement decisions:
05 / COMPLIANCEWho Must Comply with ALMM?
ALMM compliance is not universal โ it applies to specific categories of projects. Understanding the scope is critical for procurement planning, especially for projects that straddle the compliance boundary dates.
Private off-grid installations; captive consumption projects (individual or group); projects commissioned before March 31, 2024 (reinstated mandate exemption); and projects bid before April 10, 2021.
06 / TIMELINEKey Regulatory Dates You Cannot Afford to Miss
MNRE issues the "Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar PV Modules (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019" โ the founding legal document.
MNRE publishes the first ALMM List-I for solar PV modules. Compliance becomes mandatory for government projects from April 10, 2021.
After a year-long hold (FY 2022โ23), MNRE reinstates the ALMM mandate. Projects commissioned by March 31, 2024 were exempted; those after must comply fully.
India's first approved list for solar PV cells is published with 6 manufacturers and 13 GW combined capacity. Cut-off compliance date set as August 31, 2025.
ALMM List-II for solar cells becomes compulsory. All new government and grid-connected projects must source cells from approved List-II manufacturers.
MNRE's draft amendment proposes ALMM List-III for solar wafers, subject to at least three independent wafer manufacturing units with 15 GW capacity.
07 / TECHNOLOGYPERC vs TOPCon vs HJT โ What's on ALMM?
The technology mix within ALMM has shifted dramatically since 2021 โ from polycrystalline to Mono PERC to TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact), which offers higher efficiencies, better temperature coefficients, and superior low-light performance.
| Technology | Typical Efficiency | ALMM Share | Key ALMM Manufacturers | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mono PERC | 19.5%โ21.5% | ~59% | Waaree, Tata, Adani, ReNew, Premier | Rooftop, cost-sensitive utility |
| TOPCon | 21.5%โ23.5% | ~28% | Waaree, Adani, Emmvee, Rayzon, Goldi | Utility-scale, carport, BIPV |
| HJT | 22%โ24%+ | <1% | Vikram Solar (limited) | Premium, space-constrained |
| CdTe Thin Film | 18%โ19% | ~2% | First Solar (FS India) | Utility, arid/high-irradiance zones |
| Bifacial (any) | +5โ15% rear gain | ~60% modules | Most major manufacturers | Ground-mount, tracker systems |
TOPCon pricing has converged with Mono PERC over the past 12 months. Headsup B2B recommends specifying TOPCon bifacial for all new utility-scale and carport tenders above 500 kWp โ the IRR uplift is typically 0.3โ0.8% over the project life.
08 / SOURCINGHow to Source ALMM-Certified Modules Effectively
Knowing the list is only half the battle. The real challenge is securing the right modules โ at the right price, right delivery timeline, and with documented ALMM compliance โ for a project on a tight deadline.
5-Step ALMM-Compliant Procurement Checklist
Search, filter, and compare all 100+ ALMM-approved solar module manufacturers โ by technology, state, capacity, and year. Updated after every MNRE revision.
Open ALMM Database Tool โOr embed it on your website10 / FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a private rooftop solar project use non-ALMM modules?
Yes โ if the project is entirely off-grid or used for captive consumption without any government subsidy, ALMM compliance is not mandatory. However, if the project avails net-metering benefits, it must use ALMM-listed modules.
Q: What happens if a manufacturer is delisted mid-project?
If a manufacturer's BIS registration expires and they are removed from ALMM while modules are already installed, the previously installed modules remain compliant. However, any future supply for the same project must come from an active listed manufacturer.
Q: Is First Solar's thin-film module ALMM-listed?
Yes. FS India Solar Ventures has 3,433 MW of CdTe thin-film capacity listed under both List-I (modules) and List-II (cells). It is the only thin-film manufacturer and one of the only foreign-origin firms on the ALMM โ due to its local manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu.
Q: How often is the ALMM list updated?
MNRE updates List-I for modules approximately every 4โ6 weeks. List-II for cells has been revised four times since its first publication in July 2025.
Q: Where can I download the official ALMM list PDF?
The official ALMM list is available at mnre.gov.in. Our interactive ALMM database provides a searchable, always-updated version you can use directly for procurement decisions.
Headsup B2B is India's B2B procurement marketplace for infrastructure materials โ TMT bars, solar equipment, structural steel, crash barriers, and non-ferrous metals. With โน220+ Cr in annual procurement volumes, we track MNRE policy, ALMM updates, and supply chain shifts in real time.
