ReNew Enters November ALMM List With Module Making Facility

The November ALMM (Approved List of Module Manufacturers) list issued recently by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) saw several significant developments.

To begin with, there are three new entrants on the latest ALMM list of the ministry, taking the total number of solar module manufacturers in India up from 76 to 79 this month. These include Odisha-based Surya International Enterprise Private Limited, enlisted for 77 MW capacity, and Punjab’s Inter Solar Systems Private Limited, which has been enlisted for 49 MW.

The big new entrant to the list, however, is ReNew Photovolotics Private Limited in Rajasthan. It is a subsidiary of ReNew Energy, one of the renewable Independent Power Producers (IPP) in the country. The arm was enlisted for a significant manufacturing capacity of 2,842 MW.

This figure surpasses the standalone figure of Waaree Energies at 2,650 MW. The final November figure of about 23 GW starkly contrasts the industry claims of reaching 60 GW of local manufacturing capacity. It may be noted that the government continued to keep out foreign brands from making an entry into the list in November, too.

Waaree, as per the list released in October this year, is also in a co-branding agreement with Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd for an additional capacity worth 600 MW.

SAEL Solar Manufacturing Private Limited, which has been proactively participating in government tenders and winning them this year, is also a new entrant for the provisional enlistment on the November ALMM list. The firm is enlisted for a 141 MW capacity per year but sought its enlistment for an applied capacity of 150 MW per year.

Tracing the ALMM Trajectory

The ALMM list, updated frequently, has always sprung surprises. When compared to the list of January 2023, the current list has seen a couple of dropouts, while new ones made their way into the list.

Back in January, the ALMM document featured 89 solar module manufacturing companies. The new efficiency norms seem to have weeded out a few, especially those making polycrystalline modules. 

The Exits

Among the dropouts are Gujarat-based Solarium Green Energy, Sanelite Solar, Telangana-based Pennar Industries, Haryana-based Sun n Sand Exim, besides Himalayan Solar from the same state. Uttar Pradesh-based Patanjali Renewable Energy Limited has also made an exit from the list. Other dropouts include Central Electronics, PV Power Technologies, Icon Solar-En Power Technologies Pvt Ltd.

While Waaree Energies has retained a place on the list, Waaree Renewables no longer has a presence with any manufacturing capacity. Topsun, Websol, and Visaka Industries Limited are no longer present on the list either.

The Entrants

The list has also seen the introduction of new additions. It includes Gujarat-based GreenBrilliance Renewable Energy LLP, Fujiyama Power Systems Private Limited, Genus Innovation Limited, Spark Solar Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Rhine Solar Limited, and SAEL Solar Mfg Private Limited, among others.

The most prominent addition in the November ALMM list, however, remains ReNew, which has entered in sync with the start of operations at its plant, perhaps a record of sorts.

Min Efficiency Mandate

Since January 2023, there has been a marked shift in the importance given to energy efficiencies of solar modules. While the January list did not disclose or stipulate energy efficiencies for solar modules, the subsequent lists have mandated the efficiencies required for utility, rooftop, and solar pumping as well as solar lighting with norms laid out at 20%, 19.5%, and 19%, respectively.

Capacity Additions

Several firms have moved towards notable capacity increases. In January, Waaree was enlisted for 1,600 MW. However, now, it is enlisted for a massive capacity of 2,650 MW (besides its 600 MW co-location arrangement with Tata Power), helping it maintain its place consistently as the largest solar module manufacturer on the list.

In January, Mundra was enlisted for 1,100 MW and now, the number is more than twice the original number at 2,036 MW. Bharat Electronics was earlier enlisted for a mere 10 MW but now is enlisted for over 200 MW, signifying an over 20x increase. Tata Power Solar Systems, on the other hand, has slid from 710 MW to 88 MW. There’s a slide for RenewSys, too, from 750 MW to 565 MW.

Premier has marked its place among the top five module manufacturers, witnessing an increase in enlistment to the present 1116 MW from 482 MW in January 2023.

Goldi Solar also seems to have come a long way from 500 MW to 1,629 MW, marking its place among the top 5 module manufacturers on the list.

Vikram Solar is now enlisted for 1,287 MW, while in January, it was enlisted for 1,050 MW plus a 500 MW co-location deal with Tata Power.

Between January 2023 and now, the enlisted capacity has changed by less than 10% (inclusive of co-branding arrangements worth 1180 MW), impacted as it has by the withdrawal of multiple firms, even as new ones came in. Expect a significant jump by March 2024, as many large capacities under construction come up for enlistment, too. Waaree itself, with an overall capacity of 12 GW, will probably look at adding significant capacities to the approved list.