The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a clarification regarding the applicability of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar projects. This clarification comes in response to two specific queries related to the exemption from ALMM requirements for certain types of renewable energy projects.

The first query asked whether the exemption from using solar cells listed in the ALMM List-II, which applies to Net-Metering and Open Access renewable energy power projects commissioned before June 1, 2026, also applies to other similar schemes such as Net-Billing, Virtual Net Metering, and Group Net Metering.

In response, MNRE has clarified that Net-Billing, Virtual Net Metering, and Group Net Metering are to be treated the same as Net-Metering projects when it comes to the ALMM exemption. The ministry explained that Virtual Net Metering and Group Net Metering are simply extended models of Net-Metering, either serving multiple consumers in the same category or a single consumer with more than one service connection. Net-Billing is considered a hybrid model that combines features of both Net-Metering and Gross Metering. Therefore, all these schemes will be eligible for the same ALMM exemption that applies to Net-Metering projects commissioned before June 1, 2026.

The second query was about whether behind-the-meter solar power plants used for captive consumption by government entities or public sector enterprises are also exempted from ALMM requirements. MNRE has stated that such projects are not exempt. According to the clarification, government projects have been under the scope of ALMM from the beginning, starting with the original office memorandum dated January 2, 2019. Later amendments dated January 13, 2022, and March 28, 2022, extended ALMM applicability to Open Access and Net-Metering projects. The clarification issued on October 7, 2022, which exempts behind-the-meter projects for private captive consumption, does not apply to government or public sector entities.

This clarification has been issued with the approval of the Secretary of MNRE.