By Staff Reporter
In a significant development aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing, the Indian government is planning to register solar panels that are constructed using only domestically manufactured cells, wafers, and polysilicon under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) within the next 3-4 years. The decision was announced by the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, who has instructed his ministry’s officers to develop a comprehensive policy to facilitate this transition.
The ALMM, introduced by the government, serves as a crucial initiative to promote the production of solar panels within the country. Under this program, solar modules with lower efficiency are excluded from the list.
Minister Singh emphasized that the government is committed to evolving its policies to protect only those solar panels that are constructed with Indian-made cells. He stated, “We will evolve our policies. We will only protect those modules, which are made-in-India cells. In one or two years, we will bring such a policy. Then again, after 1-2 years, we will bring a policy that wafers and polysilicon should also be made in India.”
This strategic move aligns with the broader vision of promoting ‘Make-in-India‘ and aims to reduce dependency on imported components for solar panels. In the coming years, the government intends to discourage the import of solar panel parts to drive the growth of domestic manufacturing.
Minister Singh also highlighted the need to ensure transparency and authenticity in solar panel manufacturing, emphasizing that manufacturers should not import cells from other countries, assemble them in India, and label them as “made in India,” especially if most components are sourced from overseas.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will also conduct a review of the ALMM program next year to ensure that manufacturers do not endorse outdated equipment or technology, ultimately safeguarding the interests of the Indian population.
This initiative demonstrates the Indian government’s commitment to fostering domestic solar panel manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports, and promoting the development of advanced technologies in the renewable energy sector.