The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of India officially released the revised ALMM List-II (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) dedicated to photovoltaic cells on the 15th, raising the cumulative registered capacity in the list to 23.7 GW. This marks a significant increase from the first revision in September, which stood at 17.88 GW.
The core highlight of this revision is the addition of two capacity entries from Waaree Energies, both from its manufacturing base in Gujarat, contributing a combined 5.2 GW to the list and serving as a key driver for capacity expansion. Gujarat, as a core hub for India’s photovoltaic manufacturing industry, has attracted multiple leading enterprises due to its robust infrastructure and policy advantages.
In terms of product specifications, the newly added capacities cover both P-type and N-type technological pathways. Among them, an annual capacity of 1.3 GW is dedicated to P-type monocrystalline silicon PERC bifacial cells, featuring a 10-busbar design with dimensions of 182.2 mm × 182.2 mm and an average conversion efficiency of 23.55%. The more notable addition is an annual capacity of 3.9 GW for N-type monocrystalline silicon TOPCon bifacial cells, utilizing a 16-busbar structure with an average conversion efficiency as high as 25.54%, demonstrating significant performance advantages over P-type products. Both capacity registrations are valid for four years, expiring on December 14, 2029.
Since its inaugural release in August this year, ALMM List-II has undergone three expansions: the first version included 9 manufacturers with 13.067 GW of capacity, the first revision in September added 4.8 GW, and this latest revision further increased capacity by 5.82 GW. After these three adjustments, the list now covers mainstream photovoltaic cell manufacturers in India, with total capacity nearly 81% higher than the initial version.
On the policy front, MNRE simultaneously introduced new regulations for industrial chain integration: starting June 1, 2028, all photovoltaic cells listed in ALMM List-II must use domestically produced wafers registered under ALMM List-III (the dedicated wafer list), and wafer manufacturers must possess corresponding ingot production capabilities. This forms a localized closed-loop of “ingot-wafer-cell” production. Amit Paithankar, CEO of Waaree Energies, stated that this policy will drive deeper integration of the industrial chain and strengthen India’s autonomy in photovoltaic manufacturing.
It is reported that ALMM List-II will become mandatory from June 1, 2026, requiring government-supported projects to prioritize the procurement of cells listed therein. This capacity expansion and policy upgrade will provide critical support for India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
