ALMM List Explained

Every Indian EPC owner learns about the ALMM list at the worst possible time: during DISCOM inspection, when the engineer points out that the inverter they installed is not on the approved list. The PM Surya Ghar subsidy application is rejected. The customer is furious. The EPC has to source and replace the inverter at their own cost.

This happens dozens of times every month across India. It does not have to.

This guide explains what the ALMM list is, why it matters for your EPC business, how to check compliance before ordering, which brands are typically on it, and what the penalty is for using non-ALMM equipment. The list is updated annually by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), so even equipment that was compliant last year may need re-verification.

What is the ALMM list?

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is a quality and compliance certification registry maintained by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.

The ALMM list covers two equipment categories:

• List I: Solar Photovoltaic Modules (panels)
• List II: Solar Inverters

Any solar panel or inverter that wants to be sold for use in MNRE-funded, state government-backed, or PM Surya Ghar projects must be on the ALMM list. Equipment manufacturers apply to MNRE for ALMM listing, submit test reports from NABL-accredited laboratories, and pass a factory inspection. MNRE then adds the approved models to the list.

The ALMM list is not a generic "good quality" stamp, it is specifically a certification that the equipment meets Indian standards, is manufactured to specified quality levels, and is produced by a company with verifiable manufacturing capacity in India or meeting Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) norms.

Why the ALMM list matters for Indian EPCs

For most of India's solar market history, EPCs could source panels and inverters from any supplier offering a competitive price. The ALMM requirement changed that for all government-backed projects. Here is why it matters:

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: The central subsidy, up to ₹78,000 per residential project, requires ALMM-compliant modules and inverters. PM Surya Ghar National Portal operationalises this through the vendor registration process, which requires EPCs to declare the specific panel and inverter models they will use. Non-ALMM models cause application rejection.

All MNRE-funded rooftop and ground-mounted projects: Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) scheme projects, grid-connected rooftop solar programmes, and many state government schemes specify ALMM compliance as a tender condition.

DISCOM inspection: Many DISCOMs now verify ALMM compliance as part of the net metering inspection. An installation with non-ALMM inverters can be rejected at inspection, requiring component replacement before commissioning.

Customer warranty protection: ALMM-listed equipment comes with mandatory warranty terms enforced through the listing process. Non-ALMM equipment warranties are often unenforceable for government-subsidised customers.

The ALMM Compliance Check, 3 must-verify items before ordering

Before placing any procurement order for a PM Surya Ghar or MNRE project, run this 3-item compliance check. It takes 5 minutes and protects ₹78,000+ per project.

1. 1

   Module ALMM Status

   Go to the MNRE ALMM portal at mnre.gov.in. Navigate to "Approved List" → "PV Modules (List I)." Search by manufacturer name or module model number. Confirm the exact model you are ordering is on the current list. Note the list edition date, if the list was last updated more than 6 months ago, verify with the manufacturer that their listing is still valid and not pending renewal.

2. 2

   Inverter ALMM Status

   Navigate to "Approved List" → "Inverters (List II)" on the same MNRE portal. Confirm the exact inverter model and kW rating you are specifying. Note that some manufacturers list each power rating separately, a Solis 3 kW inverter being on the list does not automatically mean the Solis 5 kW model is also listed. Always check the specific rating you are ordering.

3. 3

   BIS Certification Verification

   Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification is separate from ALMM and required for modules sold in India under Compulsory Registration Order (CRO). Verify the BIS registration certificate is available from the supplier. For inverters, the relevant standards are IS 16221 (PV inverters) and IS 16169 (string inverters). Check at BIS India portal (bis.gov.in).

How to check the ALMM list

The ALMM list is publicly available on the MNRE website. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Go to mnre.gov.in
2. Navigate to the "Solar Energy" section
3. Look for "ALMM" or "Approved List of Models and Manufacturers"
4. Download the current edition of List I (Modules) and List II (Inverters) as PDFs
5. Use Ctrl+F to search for the manufacturer name or model number
6. Confirm: the model is present, the wattage/capacity matches what you are ordering, and the listing is current (check the edition date in the document header)

The ALMM list is typically updated once or twice per year. MNRE publishes the updated list as a gazette notification. Major changes, brands added, brands removed, capacity ratings changed, are also covered in industry publications like Mercom India and Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Which brands are typically on the ALMM list?

The ALMM list changes with each edition, and we cannot guarantee any specific brand or model is currently listed at the time you read this. Always verify directly on the MNRE portal. That said, here is the typical landscape as of 2025–2026:

Panels (List I), commonly listed manufacturers:

• Waaree Energies (Indian manufacturer, Surat-based)
• Adani Solar (Indian manufacturer)
• Vikram Solar (Indian manufacturer, Chennai)
• Tata Power Solar (Indian manufacturer)
• Renewsys India
• Goldi Solar
• Premier Energies
• Some Jinko Solar, LONGi Solar, and Canadian Solar models (subject to DCR exclusions for certain project types)

Inverters (List II), commonly listed manufacturers:

• Havells Solar (Indian)
• Growatt (certain models)
• Solis (Ginlong Technologies, certain models)
• SolarEdge (certain models)
• Huawei Solar (select models, note: these have faced procurement scrutiny for CPSU projects)
• Fimer (ABB Solar successor)
• Delta Electronics (certain models)
• Su-Kam Solar
• Genus Innovation

Pros and cons of the ALMM requirement

ALMM vs BIS, what is the difference?

Both ALMM and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) are compliance requirements for solar equipment in India, but they serve different purposes and are administered by different bodies.

For a residential PM Surya Ghar installation, you need both: ALMM compliance (for subsidy eligibility) and BIS certification (for lawful sale of panels in India). If a panel has BIS certification but is not on the ALMM list, it can be sold in India for non-subsidised projects but cannot be used on PM Surya Ghar installations.

What happens if you use non-ALMM equipment?

The consequences are graduated depending on the project type and the stage at which non-compliance is discovered.

Before commissioning (discovered at DISCOM inspection): The DISCOM engineer rejects the system. The EPC must replace the non-ALMM components and schedule a re-inspection. This adds 2–4 weeks to the project timeline and the full cost of replacement falls on the EPC (rarely on the customer if it was the EPC's specification error).

After commissioning but before PM Surya Ghar disbursement: The PM Surya Ghar portal rejects the disbursement application when the equipment model is verified against the ALMM list. The EPC may not be able to rectify this, the subsidy may be permanently lost for that installation.

Government/CPSU projects: Non-ALMM equipment on a tendered project can trigger contract penalties, blacklisting from future MNRE/SECI tenders, and financial damages from the project developer. These consequences are severe for any EPC aspiring to grow into C&I or utility-scale projects.

How the ALMM list is updated, and why you must check annually

The ALMM list is published by MNRE and typically revised once or twice per year. Each revision may:

• Add new manufacturers or models that have completed the approval process
• Remove manufacturers who failed to renew their listing, failed quality audits, or discontinued production
• Update capacity ratings for existing models (new variants of a panel model may require separate listing)
• Modify DCR conditions for certain categories

The notification of each revision is published as a gazette notification and simultaneously on the MNRE website. Press Information Bureau typically carries the notification as well.

For EPC owners, the practical implication: at the start of each financial year (April), download the latest ALMM lists and update your standard BOM templates. If any previously specified models have been removed from the list, update your preferred component list and briefing your procurement team.

ALMM and PM Surya Ghar, the connection

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, India's flagship residential solar scheme announced in February 2024, explicitly requires ALMM-listed equipment. This is enforced at two points in the PM Surya Ghar application process:

At vendor registration: EPCs must register on the PM Surya Ghar portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in as empanelled vendors. During registration, they declare the panel and inverter models they intend to use. The portal validates these models against the ALMM list in real-time. Models not on the ALMM list are rejected at the declaration stage. See our guide on PM Surya Ghar vendor registration for the full process.

At subsidy disbursement: After installation and DISCOM commissioning, the EPC submits completion documents including the actual components installed. The portal cross-checks the installed model against the declared model and the ALMM list. Any discrepancy, installed model not on ALMM, or different from the declared model, triggers rejection.

Understanding PM Surya Ghar eligibility requirements fully, including ALMM compliance, is essential before committing to any customer. The PM Surya Ghar cost by system size guide explains how the subsidy applies to different configurations.

For the complete picture of the installation process where ALMM compliance is verified, see our solar installation process step-by-step guide. For how to capture ALMM compliance checks in your site survey workflow, see the solar site survey checklist.

ALMM and the on-grid vs hybrid vs off-grid question

ALMM compliance is required for any system that uses PM Surya Ghar subsidy, which means on-grid and hybrid systems. Off-grid systems, which are not eligible for PM Surya Ghar, are not formally subject to the ALMM requirement for subsidy purposes. However, most quality-conscious EPCs source ALMM-listed equipment even for off-grid projects because it serves as a quality baseline.

For a deeper understanding of how system type affects subsidy eligibility and compliance requirements, see our guide on on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid solar for Indian sites.

The system sizing implications are also important: the ALMM Compliance Check should happen in Phase 2 (Design) of the 7-Phase Solar Installation Timeline, before the BOM is finalised. If you wait until procurement, you may find your preferred model is not on the ALMM list and you need to redo the sizing calculation with a different panel wattage.

For context on panel pricing in the ALMM landscape, see our solar panel price trends guide and the solar inverter price guide.

How QuickEstimate fits

Rohit's procurement team in Surat was running ALMM checks manually, looking up the MNRE PDF, searching by model name, and updating their BOM. When the ALMM list was revised in Q3 last year, two of their standard panel models were removed. Neither Rohit nor his procurement lead noticed for three weeks, during which time four projects were quoted with non-ALMM panels.

• Proposal Generator, prompts for ALMM compliance certificate upload for every panel and inverter specified in the proposal; if a certificate is missing, the PM Surya Ghar subsidy line auto-populates as "Pending ALMM verification" instead of showing the subsidy amount, preventing over-promising to customers.
• Quotation System, maintains a curated list of ALMM-verified components that Rohit's team can select from; when a new procurement order is placed, the system flags if the selected model's last ALMM verification was more than 90 days ago, prompting a re-check.
• Pipeline Management, tracks ALMM compliance status as a field in each project record so Rohit can see, at a glance, which projects in his pipeline have verified ALMM compliance and which are still pending before materials are ordered.

Start free on QuickEstimate and set up your first ALMM-compliant proposal template today.

What to do this week

1. Download the current ALMM List I and List II from mnre.gov.in today. Open both PDFs and verify that every panel model and inverter model in your current standard BOM is listed. If any are not, identify alternatives from the same manufacturer or a different ALMM-listed supplier. Brief your procurement team on the verified list this week.
2. Add ALMM verification as a formal step in your procurement SOP. It should appear as a check before every material order, not just at the start of the year. A 5-minute check per order prevents ₹78,000+ in subsidy loss per project. If you use a digital project management tool, add it as a required field before the procurement order status can be marked as confirmed.
3. Verify your vendor registration on the PM Surya Ghar portal. If the panel or inverter models listed in your vendor registration are no longer on the ALMM list, update your registration immediately. Operating with an outdated vendor registration puts every new PM Surya Ghar application at risk. See the vendor registration guide for the update process.

Frequently asked questions

What does ALMM stand for?

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is maintained by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. The ALMM has two parts: List I covers solar photovoltaic modules (panels), and List II covers solar inverters. Equipment on this list is eligible for use in PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and other MNRE-funded solar projects.

Is ALMM certification mandatory for all solar installations in India?

ALMM compliance is mandatory for all PM Surya Ghar (residential rooftop solar) projects, CPSU scheme projects, and other MNRE-funded solar installations. It is not legally mandatory for purely private solar installations (where no government subsidy is claimed), but most quality-conscious EPCs source ALMM-listed equipment regardless to ensure product quality and warranty enforcement.

How often is the ALMM list updated?

The ALMM list is typically revised at least once per year, sometimes twice. Each revision is published as a gazette notification by MNRE and simultaneously updated on the MNRE website. Manufacturers must renew their ALMM listing periodically by re-submitting test reports and passing factory inspections. Check the list at the start of each financial year and before any large procurement order.

Where can I download the current ALMM list?

The ALMM list is available for free download on the official MNRE website at mnre.gov.in. Navigate to the Solar Energy section and look for the ALMM or Approved List links. The lists are published as PDF documents. You can also search "ALMM List MNRE" on any search engine for direct links to the current edition.

Can an EPC use non-ALMM panels for a PM Surya Ghar project?

No. Using non-ALMM panels on a PM Surya Ghar project disqualifies the entire subsidy for that installation. The PM Surya Ghar portal validates equipment model numbers against the ALMM list at both vendor registration and subsidy disbursement stages. If the panels installed do not match an ALMM-listed model, the up to ₹78,000 central subsidy will not be disbursed and cannot be recovered.

What is the difference between ALMM and BIS certification?

ALMM is administered by MNRE and determines eligibility for subsidised projects. BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification is administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards under DPIIT and is mandatory for all solar panels sold in India under the Compulsory Registration Order. Both are required for PM Surya Ghar projects. A panel can have BIS certification without being on the ALMM list (eligible for private projects, not subsidised ones), or have ALMM listing without separately demonstrating BIS compliance (would still need BIS for legal sale in India).

What happens if a model I already have in stock gets removed from the ALMM list?

If a model is removed from the ALMM list after you have already purchased stock, you can still use it for private (non-subsidised) installations. For PM Surya Ghar and MNRE projects, you would need to source an ALMM-listed alternative. This is a real procurement risk, maintain a 15–20% buffer in project scheduling to allow for component swaps if the ALMM list changes mid-procurement.

Which Indian solar panel brands are typically on the ALMM list?

The ALMM list typically includes major Indian manufacturers such as Waaree Energies, Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Tata Power Solar, Renewsys India, Goldi Solar, and Premier Energies. Some international brands also have models listed, subject to DCR conditions. The specific models and capacity ratings vary with each list revision. Always verify the specific model you intend to order on the current MNRE ALMM portal before placing an order.