MNRE Policy: ALMM List II – Extension Limited Till Dec 2026
MNRE has extended the ALMM List-II exemption for net metering and open access solar projects till December 31, 2026. Here's what the policy update means for your project.
India's solar sector has seen its compliance deadline shift more than once in 2026 alone. The latest MNRE policy update, an Office Memorandum dated 18th July 2026, extends a key exemption for net metering and open access solar projects, and it's worth understanding exactly what it changes.
What Is ALMM List-II?
ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, a framework maintained by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It has two parts: List-I approves finished solar modules for use in eligible projects, while List-II goes a level deeper, requiring the solar cells inside those modules to also be domestically manufactured and approved.
The original mandate, per MNRE's O.M. dated 9th December 2024 and reiterated on 28th July 2025, required all net-metering and open access RE power projects commissioned on or after 1st June 2026 to source their solar PV modules from ALMM List-I and their solar cells from ALMM List-II.
Indian solar cell manufacturing facility working towards ALMM List-II compliance.
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The Deadline Has Moved More Than Once
On 25th May 2026, MNRE had conveyed that there would be no blanket extension of ALMM List-II beyond 1st June 2026, subject to protecting investments already made.
That position has since been revised again. In the Office Memorandum dated 18th July 2026, MNRE confirmed there is still no blanket extension of ALMM List-II applicability, but a limited window now allows net-metering and open access RE power projects to commission with exemption from the List-II (solar cell) requirement until 31st December 2026.
This is actually an extension of a shorter dispensation that existed before it, previously, this exemption was only available till 31st May 2026. The July 2026 order formally supersedes the 25th May 2026 notice, along with three further related orders issued through June 2026, a clear sign of how actively this deadline has moved over just a few months.
What This Means In Practice
For commercial and industrial businesses evaluating rooftop solar, the practical takeaway is straightforward: any net-metering or open access project commissioned on or before 31st December 2026 only needs ALMM List-I compliant modules. The domestic cell requirement under List-II becomes mandatory only for projects commissioned from 1st January 2027 onward.
Projects commissioned after 31st December 2026 will be required to comply with ALMM List-II provisions in full.
Solar procurement warehouse with ALMM-approved modules stacked for commissioning.
Why This Policy Exists
The broader goal behind ALMM List-II is to build a self-reliant, fully integrated domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem in India, one where cells, not just finished modules, are sourced domestically, rather than depending on imports, which currently account for the large majority of India's solar cell supply.
This decision followed detailed deliberations with stakeholders across the solar industry, aimed at ensuring a smoother transition to full List-II compliance for net-metering and open access renewable power projects specifically.
What Businesses Should Do Now
Time Commissioning Carefully
Businesses aiming to commission a net-metering or open access project without the List-II cell requirement should plan for commissioning on or before 31st December 2026.
Don't Treat Any Single Date As Final
Given how frequently this timeline has shifted through 2026, from June, to May, to the current December deadline, it's worth confirming the applicable rule against the latest MNRE notification at the time of commissioning, rather than relying on any one date as permanently fixed.
Confirm Compliance With Your EPC Partner
Whether a project falls before or after the deadline, businesses should confirm their EPC partner is sourcing genuinely ALMM-compliant modules and, where applicable, List-II compliant cells, rather than assuming compliance by default.
Questions buyers ask us.
Net-metering and open access RE power projects can currently commission with exemption from ALMM List-II (solar cells) until 31st December 2026, per MNRE's Office Memorandum dated 18th July 2026.
Yes. This exemption was previously available only till 31st May 2026, before being extended to 31st December 2026 through the July 2026 policy update.
They will be required to comply with ALMM List-II provisions, meaning solar cells must be sourced from ALMM List-II approved domestic manufacturers.
The current exemption window specifically applies to net-metering and open access RE power projects. Other categories, including certain government-backed projects, may have different applicable timelines.
Largely due to a gap between India's domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity and its much larger module manufacturing capacity, requiring a more gradual transition timeline.
At PowerMore, ALMM compliance is tracked as a live, evolving policy requirement, not a one-time checkbox. Every project's procurement and commissioning timeline is planned against the most current MNRE notification, so businesses stay compliant without last-minute surprises.
Speak to our team to plan your solar project around current ALMM requirements.
