India has reached a landmark achievement of 100 GW solar module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), up from just 2.3 GW in 2014, reinforcing the country’s push towards clean energy and self-reliance.
Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, marked the achievement on X (formely twitter), attributing India’s swift growth in domestic solar manufacturing to forward-looking leadership and strategic initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised India’s 100 GW solar module achievement on Twitter, calling it a key step towards self-reliance. He highlighted the success of India’s manufacturing capabilities and the country’s efforts to enhance clean and sustainable energy generation.
The ALMM serves as a registry of solar modules approved for government and large-scale utility projects. A major portion of the 100 GW capacity is locally produced, strengthening domestic manufacturers and advancing India’s energy self-reliance.
In recent years, the government has taken steps to curb imports of solar modules from China, the world’s largest supplier. The Approved List of ALMM acts as a non-tariff barrier, working alongside the 40% basic customs duty on imported modules.
Owing to limited domestic supply, the ALMM rules were postponed for a year and officially started on 1 April 2024. In FY24, buying solar modules from ALMM-listed manufacturers was temporarily halted to ensure solar capacity targets were not affected.
The government is now also planing to extend the ALMM framework to solar cells starting 1 June 2026. This step will further encourage domestic productionand support India’s vision of a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem.
The 100 GW milestone contributes to India’s ambitious 500 GW non-fossil energy target by 2030. Strengthening domestic manufacturing and expanding solar capacity are key steps in ensuring sustainable growth and energy security for the country.
