Govt mandates registry of solar manufacturers under ALMM
14 Jun 2021
2 Min Read
CW Team
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has made it mandatory for solar cell and module manufacturers to register under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).
Manufacturers listed under ALMM can supply to the project tenders of the government agencies.
On March 10, the first list of module manufacturers was released by the Ministry. For the tenders issued after April 10, the developers will have to procure modules only from the manufacturers listed under ALMM.
A solar developer told the media that domestic manufacturers cannot supply more than 50 MW capacity in a month, it will take more than a year to supply 300 MW. Others said the basic customs duty (BCD) is to come in April 2022, and hence no need to push ALMM. The developers are concerned about how to procure Chinese supplies since none of them is enlisted under ALMM.
ALMM ensures quality solar products, however, it overlaps the existing Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certifications in many ways. Stakeholders are not sure about the viability of the whole process. While BIS is a product certification, ALMM caters facility certifications to the manufacturers.
The ALMM is a thinly veiled non -tariff barrier, made bulky by the design and intent to ward off solar imports. It is a combination of 25% of solar cells and 40% of modules. This non-tariff barrier can significantly disincentivize foreign manufacturers from entering the Indian solar market.
According to some suppliers, inspection facilities in China can be delayed for over a year. China is yet to open the country for visitors. When talking about the offshore facilities in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, the suppliers believe that these facilities are catering to demand in the European and the US market, since they manufacture N-type modules that are of high prices and book until next year.
Also read: SECI pays Rs 491 cr to solar, wind developers for power purchase in April
Also read: Renewable energy certificate mechanism to be restructured
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has made it mandatory for solar cell and module manufacturers to register under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).
Manufacturers listed under ALMM can supply to the project tenders of the government agencies.
On March 10, the first list of module manufacturers was released by the Ministry. For the tenders issued after April 10, the developers will have to procure modules only from the manufacturers listed under ALMM.
A solar developer told the media that domestic manufacturers cannot supply more than 50 MW capacity in a month, it will take more than a year to supply 300 MW. Others said the basic customs duty (BCD) is to come in April 2022, and hence no need to push ALMM. The developers are concerned about how to procure Chinese supplies since none of them is enlisted under ALMM.
ALMM ensures quality solar products, however, it overlaps the existing Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certifications in many ways. Stakeholders are not sure about the viability of the whole process. While BIS is a product certification, ALMM caters facility certifications to the manufacturers.
The ALMM is a thinly veiled non -tariff barrier, made bulky by the design and intent to ward off solar imports. It is a combination of 25% of solar cells and 40% of modules. This non-tariff barrier can significantly disincentivize foreign manufacturers from entering the Indian solar market.
According to some suppliers, inspection facilities in China can be delayed for over a year. China is yet to open the country for visitors. When talking about the offshore facilities in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, the suppliers believe that these facilities are catering to demand in the European and the US market, since they manufacture N-type modules that are of high prices and book until next year.
Image Source
Also read: SECI pays Rs 491 cr to solar, wind developers for power purchase in April
Also read: Renewable energy certificate mechanism to be restructured
Next Story
3i Infotech Reports Rs 7.25 Bn Revenue for FY25
3i Infotech, a leading provider of digital transformation, technology services and technology solutions, announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year FY25, ended on March 31st, 2025. The company maintained its growth momentum, displaying consistent progress for the 3rd consecutive quarter.In Q4 FY25, 3i Infotech reported revenue of Rs 1.87 billion, reflecting steady performance compared to Rs 1.81 billion in Q3 FY25 and Rs 1.97 billion in Q4 FY24. The company delivered strong profitability improvements, with gross margin growing by 14.8 per cent Q-o-Q and 1..
Next Story
Emerald Finance Joins Baya PTE to Boost SME Bill Discounting
Emerald Finance is a dynamic company offering a spectrum of financial products and services including its flagship Earned Wage Access (EWA) in India, has entered into a strategic partnership with Singapore-based Baya PTE through its Indian subsidiary. This collaboration aims to strengthen bill discounting services for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enabling faster access to working capital and improved cash flow management.The initiative is designed to support SMEs that supply to large corporates such as JSW Steel, Delhivery, and PVR INOX, among others. By facilitating timely invoice dis..
Next Story
BLS E-Services Crosses Rs 5 Bn Revenue Mark in FY25
BLS E-Services, a technology-enabled digital service provider, announced its audited consolidated financial results for the quarter and full year period ended 31 March 2025.Speaking about the performance and recent updates, Shikhar Aggarwal, Chairman, BLS E- Services said, 鈥淲e are delighted to report a remarkable performance in FY25, as we achieved several milestones during the fiscal year. FY25 marked our highest-ever financial performance, as we surpassed Rs 5 billion milestone in Total Income during the year, which was reported at Rs 5.45 billion, a notable YoY growth of 76 per cent. The ..