New Delhi, 23 June: The Centre’s decision to extend the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to solar ingots and wafers from June 2028 is expected to significantly strengthen India’s position in the global clean energy supply chain while accelerating the country’s transition towards self-reliance in solar manufacturing.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently announced the introduction of ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers, extending mandatory domestic sourcing requirements further upstream in the solar value chain. The move is aimed at reducing import dependence, attracting investments, and building a fully integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem.
Moving Beyond Modules and Cells
India has made substantial progress in expanding domestic solar module and cell manufacturing over the past few years. However, the country continues to rely heavily on imports, particularly for wafers and ingots—critical intermediate components used in solar panel production.
By bringing these components under the ALMM framework, the government is encouraging manufacturers to invest in upstream manufacturing capacities, thereby increasing domestic value addition and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Building a Global Solar Manufacturing Hub
Industry experts believe the policy could help India emerge as a major alternative to China in global solar manufacturing.
China currently dominates the global solar supply chain, controlling a majority share of ingot, wafer, cell, and module production. As countries seek to diversify sourcing and reduce concentration risks, India’s growing manufacturing base could position it as a preferred destination for clean energy investments.
The requirement that manufacturers seeking inclusion in ALMM List-III must also possess equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity is expected to promote backward integration and encourage the development of large-scale integrated manufacturing facilities.
Attracting Investments and Creating Jobs
The new framework is likely to trigger significant investments across the solar manufacturing value chain, including ingot, wafer, cell, and module production.
Industry stakeholders expect the policy to generate thousands of skilled jobs in manufacturing, engineering, quality control, and technology development while supporting the growth of ancillary industries.
The government believes a stronger domestic manufacturing ecosystem will improve supply chain security, reduce vulnerability to global disruptions, and create long-term industrial capabilities.
Supporting India’s Clean Energy Ambitions
The policy aligns with India’s broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic sectors.
By ensuring greater domestic production of critical solar components, India aims to support rapid renewable energy deployment while reducing dependence on imported technologies.
Enhancing India’s Global Clean Energy Leadership
Beyond manufacturing, the move could strengthen India’s position as a global clean energy leader. A fully integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem would enable Indian companies to serve domestic demand while expanding exports to emerging and developed markets.
Experts note that if India successfully scales up ingot and wafer production over the next few years, it could emerge as one of the world’s leading solar manufacturing hubs, enhancing its competitiveness in global clean energy supply chains and reinforcing its role in the global energy transition.
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