- ALMM lists solar modules (List-I) and cells (List-II) — and nothing else right now.
- Inverters are not on ALMM. They follow BIS certification and CEA norms.
- Batteries are not on ALMM. They follow BIS and other applicable standards.
- Wind turbines use the RLMM, a separate list — not ALMM.
- A wafer/ingot tier (List-III) is planned (around 2028) — treat as planned, verify the current MNRE order.
- Mounting, cables and connectors follow BIS/IS standards, not ALMM.
Buyers ask us this a lot: "Is my inverter ALMM-approved?" The honest answer is that the question itself is usually a mix-up. ALMM is a narrow list. It approves solar modules and cells, full stop. Once you know what it covers, the rest of your gear gets a lot simpler to vet.
What ALMM actually is
ALMM stands for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is an order issued by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). In plain words, it is a government-vetted list of solar gear that can be used in supported projects. If a model is not on the relevant list, it cannot be used where the list is mandatory.
The key thing to grasp is how narrow ALMM is. It is not a catch-all "approved solar equipment" list. It covers two specific product types today: solar modules and solar cells. That is the whole scope right now. Everything else in a solar plant sits under different rules.
Why the scope matters for you
If you buy on the assumption that ALMM blesses every part of your system, you will get caught out. A module can be ALMM-listed while the inverter beside it is governed by a totally separate standard. Knowing which rule applies to which part stops you chasing the wrong certificate.
Solar modules and cells: what is in scope
ALMM covers solar modules and solar cells, split into two lists. List-I is for solar modules and List-II is for solar cells. These are the parts ALMM was built to control, because they are the heart of a solar plant and the focus of local-content goals.
List-I: solar modules
List-I is the original and best-known ALMM list. It names the module models and manufacturers that pass MNRE's checks. When people say "ALMM-approved," they almost always mean a module on List-I. This list has been in force the longest and drives most procurement decisions.
List-II: solar cells
List-II adds solar cells to the scope. It pushes the local-content requirement one layer deeper, from the finished module to the cell inside it. List-II rolled out later than List-I, so check the current enforcement date and which projects it applies to in your case.
For a deeper walk-through of both lists, see our ALMM list explained guide and the List-I, II and III ladder.
Wafers and ingots: the planned tier
A third tier for wafers and ingots, often called List-III, is planned but not yet in force as a settled rule. The idea is to extend ALMM further up the supply chain, so that the wafers and ingots used to make cells also come from approved sources.
Treat List-III as planned, not settled
You will see dates floating around for List-III, often around 2028. Treat any such date as planned and subject to change. The only reliable source is the current MNRE order. Before you plan a purchase around it, verify the wafer and ingot tier against the latest notification, because timelines like this often shift.
Are inverters on ALMM?
No — inverters are not on ALMM, and there is no "ALMM-approved inverter" in the usual sense. ALMM lists solar modules and cells, not inverters. This surprises a lot of buyers, because inverters are clearly critical gear. But the rules that govern them sit elsewhere.
So how are inverters regulated?
Grid-tied inverters mainly follow two things. First, BIS certification against the relevant Indian Standard, which covers safety and performance. Second, the technical and grid-connection norms set by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which cover how the inverter behaves on the grid, including anti-islanding.
What to ask your inverter supplier
Do not ask for an "ALMM certificate" for an inverter — that is the wrong document. Ask for the valid BIS certification and proof it meets the current CEA technical norms for grid connection. Always verify against the current BIS and CEA notification, since these requirements get updated.
Are batteries and storage on ALMM?
No — batteries and storage systems are not on ALMM either. The ALMM order is about solar modules and cells. As storage becomes a bigger part of Indian solar projects, this is a common point of confusion, but the answer holds: ALMM does not list batteries.
Batteries follow BIS and other applicable standards, plus whatever your project or tender specifies. Storage rules are also evolving fast in India. So if a project requires a specific battery standard, confirm it from the tender and the latest BIS notification, not from ALMM. Do not assume a "planned battery tier" on ALMM exists unless an order says so.
Wind turbines and the RLMM
Wind turbines are not on ALMM — they have their own list called the RLMM, the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers. So ALMM is the solar list, and RLMM is its wind analogue. If you work in wind or solar-wind hybrids, you need to know both exist.
What the RLMM is
The RLMM is the approved list for wind turbine models in India, maintained on the wind side under the National Institute of Wind Energy. It plays a similar gate-keeping role for wind that ALMM plays for solar modules. The two lists are separate and run on separate rules and timelines.
Hybrid projects touch both lists
A solar-wind hybrid plant can run into both lists at once — ALMM for its solar modules and RLMM for its wind turbines. Do not assume one list covers the other. Our RLMM vs ALMM for wind and hybrids guide breaks down how they fit together. Verify each against its current notification.
Mounting, cables, connectors and the rest
The rest of a solar plant — mounting structures, cables, connectors, junction boxes and so on — is not on ALMM. None of these have an ALMM list. They are governed by BIS and IS standards and by your project's own technical specifications.
That does not mean they are unregulated. Cables and connectors usually need to meet specific IS standards. Mounting structures must meet structural and material specs. The point is simply that the right document for these parts is a BIS or IS certificate or a spec sheet, not an ALMM listing. For the standards behind approved gear, see our BIS certification guide.
In-scope vs out-of-scope: a quick matrix
Here is the whole picture in one view. For each major piece of equipment, you can see whether ALMM covers it and, if not, which rule applies instead. Use this to point your team at the right certificate for each part.
Caption: ALMM scope by equipment type, 2026. Source: MNRE ALMM orders, BIS, CEA and RLMM notifications. The wafer/ingot tier and any dates are planned — verify against the current order.
Why people get this confused
Most of the confusion comes from treating ALMM as a single stamp of approval for a whole solar system. It is not. It is one list, for two product types, under one ministry's order. Around it sits a wider web of rules — BIS, CEA, RLMM — and people blur them together.
The "ALMM-approved inverter" myth
The most common slip is asking for an "ALMM-approved inverter." Inverters are regulated, just not by ALMM. They need BIS certification and must meet CEA norms. So the inverter is not unchecked — the buyer is simply looking for the wrong piece of paper. Ask for the BIS and CEA proof instead.
The wind mix-up
The second slip is assuming ALMM covers wind. It does not. Wind has the RLMM. If a hybrid tender mentions an approved-models requirement, read it carefully to see whether it points to ALMM for solar gear, RLMM for wind gear, or both. Verify each against its own current notification.
How SuryaHub helps you keep scope straight
When you run many projects, the hard part is making sure the right approval is logged for the right part — an ALMM listing for the module, a BIS certificate for the inverter, the correct spec for the cable. SuryaHub's procurement and inventory tracking keeps each item's compliance document attached to the gear, so your team never files an ALMM number where a BIS certificate belongs. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; our real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and AI-assisted checks are on the roadmap, not live today.
Track the right approval for each part
See how SuryaHub links ALMM, BIS and spec documents to your gear.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is ALMM applicable to inverters?+
No. ALMM is a list of approved solar modules and cells, not inverters. There is no ALMM-approved inverter in the usual sense. Grid-tied inverters instead follow BIS certification and the technical norms set by the Central Electricity Authority. Always verify against the current BIS and CEA notifications.
Does ALMM cover batteries or storage?+
No. ALMM does not list batteries or storage systems. The ALMM order covers solar modules in List-I and solar cells in List-II, with wafers and ingots planned. Batteries follow BIS and other applicable standards, so confirm the current rules with your supplier and the latest notification.
Are wind turbine models on ALMM?+
No. Wind turbines are not on ALMM. They have their own list called the RLMM, the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers, maintained for wind under the National Institute of Wind Energy. So ALMM is for solar modules and cells, while RLMM is the wind analogue. Verify against the current RLMM notification.
What equipment does ALMM actually cover?+
ALMM covers solar modules in List-I and solar cells in List-II. A wafer and ingot tier, often called List-III, is planned for around 2028. Mounting structures, cables, inverters and batteries are not on ALMM. Treat the wafer tier as planned and verify it against the current MNRE order.
Why do people think there is an ALMM-approved inverter?+
People mix up ALMM with the wider set of compliance rules. ALMM only lists solar modules and cells. Inverters do need to meet BIS certification and CEA norms, so they are regulated, just not through ALMM. Saying an inverter is ALMM-approved is usually a mistake, so check the actual BIS and CEA requirement.
What is the difference between ALMM and RLMM?+
ALMM is the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers for solar modules and cells under MNRE. RLMM is the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers for wind turbine models. They are separate lists for separate technologies. A solar-wind hybrid project may touch both, so check each list against its current notification.
Sources & references
The scope rules, lists and standards here come from primary government sources. ALMM scope, the planned wafer tier, and inverter, battery and wind rules can all change — always confirm against the current MNRE, BIS, CEA and RLMM notifications before you buy.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Issues the ALMM orders for List-I modules and List-II cells and any new tiers.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
Sets the IS standards and certification that inverters, cables and other gear must meet.
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Frames the technical and grid-connection norms that grid-tied inverters follow.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, BIS, CEA & RLMM sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Scope and rules are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. The wafer/ingot tier and any dates are planned, not settled. Inverter, battery and wind rules sit under BIS, CEA and RLMM — verify each against its current notification. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots, and AI features are on the roadmap.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.