Author: PPD Team Date: 10/05/2025
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has updated the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM), making it easier for low-wattage solar modules used in off-grid applications to qualify.
The change applies to category-III off-grid systems such as solar lamps, street lights, and fans. These systems, with modules under 200 Wp capacity, will now require only 18 per cent minimum efficiency for enlistment. This applies to both crystalline-silicon (c-Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technologies.
However, these modules will not be listed under the main ALMM List-I. Instead, they will be included in a new sub-list called ALMM List-I (DRE), which is meant for decentralised renewable energy applications. The change does not apply to agricultural pumps or rooftop solar systems.
MNRE has also introduced a new category named ‘Any other application’. This covers solar projects that do not fit into the existing classifications—utility/grid-scale, rooftop, solar pump, or off-grid. For this new category, the minimum efficiency thresholds are 19 per cent for c-Si and 18 per cent for CdTe modules.
The existing efficiency requirements remain unchanged for other categories:
- Utility and grid-scale projects: 20 per cent (c-Si), 19 per cent (CdTe)
- Rooftop solar: 19.5 per cent (c-Si), 18.5 per cent (CdTe)
- Solar pumps: 19.5 per cent (c-Si), 18.5 per cent (CdTe)
This update provides flexibility for smaller and decentralised solar solutions while keeping standards intact for larger projects.