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Solex Energy says its 3.78-GW solar module facility gets ALMM approval

March 09, 2026 5 min read Economics Science & Technology GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology Economy Environment)
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What Happened

  • Solex Energy Limited has received approval for its 3.78 GW solar photovoltaic module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) maintained by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  • The approved facility is located at Tadkeshwar, Surat, Gujarat — one of India's largest single-site solar module manufacturing plants.
  • The ALMM listing covers high-efficiency bifacial N-Type TOPCon solar modules with power ratings up to 625 Wp, reflecting the shift to next-generation module technology in India.
  • With this listing, Solex can supply modules to central and state government solar programmes, utility-scale installations, and PSU renewable energy projects — all of which mandate ALMM-listed modules.
  • The total ALMM List-I (Solar PV Modules) capacity had reached 100 GW by August 2025 across 100+ manufacturers and 123 facilities, up from just 2.3 GW when the list was first published in March 2021.

Static Topic Bridges

ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) — Quality Gateway for India's Solar Market

The ALMM is a mandatory listing issued by MNRE to ensure that solar modules used in government-funded or government-backed projects meet prescribed quality, performance, and safety standards. It was introduced to address concerns about the influx of sub-standard modules — particularly cheap Chinese imports — and to promote domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative. List-I covers Solar PV Modules (mandatory from 1 April 2022 for government projects); List-II covers Solar PV Cells (enforcement begins June 2026). Manufacturers must undergo testing at NABL-accredited laboratories and field inspection before listing.

  • ALMM List-I first published: 10 March 2021; mandatory for government projects from 1 April 2022
  • ALMM List-II (Solar Cells): First published September 2025 for 6 manufacturers; mandatory from June 2026
  • Administering body: MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
  • List-I capacity as of August 2025: 100 GW across 100+ manufacturers, 123 facilities
  • Testing requirement: IEC 61215/61730 standards at NABL-accredited labs + MNRE field inspection

Connection to this news: Solex's 3.78 GW ALMM listing adds significant new capacity to the approved list, enhancing domestic supply options for India's rapidly scaling solar deployment programmes and reducing import dependence for modules meeting the highest efficiency specifications.

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Solar PV Manufacturing

The PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules (Tranche I: ₹4,500 crore; Tranche II: ₹19,500 crore) was launched by MNRE to promote integrated solar manufacturing (from polysilicon/wafers/cells to modules) in India. PLI incentives — paid as a percentage of incremental sales — are designed to bridge the cost gap between domestic and imported modules, incentivise technology upgradation, and build a domestic supply chain for India's 500 GW renewable target. India currently imports ~75–80% of solar modules (largely from China and Vietnam), making domestic manufacturing scale-up a strategic priority.

  • PLI Solar Tranche I: Approved 2021; ₹4,500 crore; ~8.7 GW of integrated manufacturing capacity awarded
  • PLI Solar Tranche II: Approved 2022; ₹19,500 crore; targets ~39.6 GW capacity
  • Eligible products: Modules only (Tranche I) and polysilicon-to-module integrated (Tranche II) for higher incentive
  • Technology requirement: High-efficiency — minimum 20% module efficiency for eligibility
  • India's 500 GW target: By 2030 — requires ~400 GW of new renewable capacity; solar to contribute ~300 GW

Connection to this news: ALMM approval and PLI participation are complementary — ALMM listing is a quality gateway for market access, while PLI provides financial incentives for manufacturing investment. Solex's 3.78 GW capacity represents the kind of scale domestic manufacturing scale-up that PLI was designed to enable.

India's Renewable Energy Targets and Solar Manufacturing Strategy

India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030. Solar PV is central to this target. However, India's solar supply chain currently has significant import dependence — polysilicon and wafers from China, cells and modules from China/Vietnam. The Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India strategies, implemented through PLI + ALMM + Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on imports, aim to build a domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem from raw material to finished module.

  • India's installed renewable capacity (early 2026): ~220 GW; target 500 GW by 2030
  • Solar installed capacity: ~100 GW; target ~300 GW by 2030 (requires ~200 GW of new solar)
  • Basic Customs Duty (BCD): 40% on imported solar modules; 25% on solar cells — effective from April 2022
  • National Solar Mission (NSM): One of 8 missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) — targets solar energy promotion
  • Domestic module manufacturing need: ~30–40 GW per year to meet deployment targets without imports

Connection to this news: Solex's 3.78 GW ALMM listing is a direct output of the policy ecosystem — BCD protection creating market space, PLI incentivising investment, and ALMM ensuring quality and market access for domestic manufacturers. Each new large-scale Indian manufacturer reduces India's solar import dependence.

TOPCon Technology and the Solar Module Technology Frontier

TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) is a next-generation silicon solar cell technology that achieves efficiencies of 23–25% in commercial production, compared to 19–21% for mainstream PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology. TOPCon's higher efficiency means fewer modules are needed per GW of capacity, reducing land use and installation costs. The global solar industry is transitioning from PERC to TOPCon/HJT (Heterojunction Technology) for utility-scale projects. India's ALMM List-II (solar cells) mandating domestically made cells will require Indian manufacturers to invest in these advanced cell technologies.

  • TOPCon efficiency range: 23–25% (lab record: ~29% for single junction silicon)
  • PERC efficiency range: 19–21% — dominant technology until 2023
  • Bifacial modules: Capture light from both front and rear surfaces, increasing energy yield by 5–25% in field conditions
  • N-type vs P-type: N-type silicon (used in TOPCon) has lower degradation rates over module lifetime
  • 625 Wp module: High-wattage format — reduces balance-of-system costs per installed kW

Connection to this news: Solex's ALMM-listed modules are N-Type TOPCon bifacial at up to 625 Wp — placing them at the high end of commercial solar technology. This signals that Indian manufacturers are now competing not just on volume but on technology parity with global leaders.

Key Facts & Data

  • Solex Energy ALMM-listed capacity: 3,782 MW (3.78 GW) at Tadkeshwar, Surat, Gujarat
  • Technology: N-Type TOPCon bifacial modules; up to 625 Wp
  • ALMM List-I total capacity (August 2025): 100 GW; 100+ manufacturers; 123 facilities
  • List-I first published: 10 March 2021; List-II (solar cells) mandatory from June 2026
  • PLI Solar Tranche II: ₹19,500 crore for ~39.6 GW integrated manufacturing capacity
  • Basic Customs Duty on modules: 40%; on cells: 25% (from April 2022)
  • India's solar target: ~300 GW by 2030; installed as of early 2026: ~100 GW
  • TOPCon efficiency: 23–25% vs. PERC 19–21%
  • Share price reaction: Solex Energy shares rose 6–8% on the ALMM listing announcement