New Delhi, Apr 1 (KNN) In a move aimed at bolstering domestic solar manufacturing capabilities, the Indian government has announced the reinstatement of restrictions on the import of solar modules starting today, April 1, 2024.

This mandate, first introduced in 2021 under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), requires solar project developers to procure modules exclusively from a pre-approved list of domestic and international manufacturers.

The move serves as a non-tariff barrier, incentivising the growth of India's solar manufacturing ecosystem.

Initially, the government had exempted solar projects commissioned before March 31, 2024, from the ALMM requirement for the fiscal year 2023-24. However, citing the substantial progress made in augmenting domestic manufacturing capacities, the authorities have decided to reinstate the restrictions without any exceptions.

According to data from Mercom India Research, the country's cumulative solar module manufacturing capacity reached an impressive 64.5 GW, while solar cell manufacturing capacity stood at 5.8 GW as of December 2023.

Projections indicate that module manufacturing capacity could surpass 150 GW, and cell capacity could reach 75 GW by 2026, further strengthening India's position in the global solar supply chain.

(KNN Bureau)