The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced an amendment to its ALMM (Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules) Order, reducing the minimum efficiency thresholds for solar PV modules used in specific off-grid applications.
According to an Office Memorandum issued on May 6, 2025, this change applies to projects like solar lamps, solar lights, solar street lights, and solar fans where the individual capacity of each solar PV module deployed is less than 200 Watt peak. Solar powered agricultural pumps and solar PV rooftops are excluded from this revision.
The MNRE’s existing ALMM order, issued on January 2, 2019, and subsequent amendments, previously set a minimum module efficiency of 18.00% for Category-III, which included solar lighting. However, the ministry stated that it has received multiple requests to lower these thresholds for the aforementioned smaller off-grid applications.
As a result of these representations, the MNRE has revised the minimum module efficiency required for ALMM enlistment for these specific off-grid applications to:
| Category | Application/Use | Minimum Module Efficiency required to be eligible for enlistment in ALMM for solar PV modules | Minimum Module Efficiency required to be eligible for enlistment in ALMM for solar PV modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| For crystalline-silicon technology based Solar PV Modules: | For Cadmium Telluride Thin Film technology based solar PV Modules: | ||
| Category-I | Utility/ Grid Scale Power Plants | 20.0% | 19.00% |
| Category-II | Rooftop and Solar Pumping | 19.5% | 18.50% |
| Category-III | Solar Lighting | 19.0% | 18.00% |
This adjustment is intended to cater to the specific technological and economic considerations of these lower-capacity off-grid solar applications. The MNRE believes this will facilitate the deployment of suitable and cost-effective solar modules for such uses. All other procedural guidelines related to ALMM enlistment will remain the same as currently applicable to solar PV modules, where relevant.
