- India makes more modules than cells, so the List-II rule creates a supply gap.
- TOPCon cells are tightest; much enlisted cell capacity is older Mono PERC.
- The mandate is set for ~1 June 2026 but faced court action — confirm the latest MNRE order.
- Lock cell tech, written supply and price 6–9 months ahead of commissioning.
- Imported cells are not List-II — use them only for non-mandate jobs.
- All capacities and dates here are point-in-time; check the live ALMM list.
If you build solar projects that need ALMM List-II cells, your biggest risk in 2026 is not price. It is whether you can get the right cells at all, on time. India can roll out modules far faster than it can make the cells inside them. That gap is the story of this page.
Why is there a cell shortage now?
There is a cell shortage now because the ALMM List-II rule forces projects to use domestic cells, and India does not yet make enough of the high-efficiency type. For years, Indian module makers imported cells, mostly from China, and just assembled them into panels. The List-II mandate closes that door for covered projects.
So demand for domestic cells jumps, but supply has not caught up. Industry estimates put operational cell capacity at around 28 GW, far below module capacity, and a big share of that is older Mono PERC, not the newer TOPCon many buyers want. Treat that 28 GW as a point-in-time estimate — verify it against current Mercom and MNRE data.
What List-II actually changes
ALMM has two lists. List-I covers approved module makers and has been in force for a while. List-II covers approved cell makers. The new rule says covered projects must use a module from List-I built with a cell from a List-II maker. Our List-II mandate guide walks through exactly what is covered and when.
Why does cell capacity lag module capacity?
Cell capacity lags because making cells is harder, slower and more costly to build than assembling modules. A module line bolts cells, glass, frame and backsheet into a panel. A cell line runs wafers through high-temperature, high-precision steps that need clean rooms, costly tools and skilled staff. You can stand up a module line in months; a cell line takes far longer.
Modules are quick, cells are slow
Because module lines are cheaper and faster, India added them first to chase demand and subsidy. Cell lines need more capital and a longer ramp before they hit rated output and yield. That is why module capacity raced ahead while cell capacity is still catching up.
Yield ramp adds more delay
A new cell line does not hit full, sellable output on day one. It takes time to push the yield — the share of good cells — up to a healthy level. So even commissioned capacity may ship less than its rated number for a while. Plan as if listed capacity is generous, not conservative.
How does TOPCon differ from Mono PERC for procurement?
TOPCon differs because it gives higher efficiency but has tighter domestic supply, while Mono PERC is lower yield but easier to source today. TOPCon is the newer n-type technology; it squeezes more watts from the same area, which buyers like. But fewer Indian lines make it, so it is the cell type most exposed to the shortage.
Higher yield, tighter supply
Mono PERC is the older p-type workhorse. More enlisted Indian makers run it, so it is generally easier to get and less prone to price spikes. You give up a little efficiency, but you cut your supply risk. For many EPCs in 2026, that trade is worth it. Confirm any maker is on List-II before you commit either way.
Match the cell to the job, not the trend
Do not pick TOPCon just because it is the headline technology. If a rooftop job has plenty of roof area, Mono PERC may hit the target capacity fine and ship sooner. Save scarce TOPCon for space-tight sites where every extra watt counts. Let the site, not the hype, drive the choice.
How should an EPC plan the BOM around this?
An EPC should plan the BOM by freezing the cell technology and the enlisted maker early, then ordering against real, won jobs. Your bill of materials is where compliance lives or dies. If the cell behind your module is not from a List-II maker, the whole BOM fails for a covered project.
Start from the cell, not the panel
Most EPCs spec a module brand and wattage and stop there. In 2026, go one layer deeper: ask which cell, from which List-II maker, sits inside that module. Get it in writing. Our BOM compliance guide shows how to build a procurement BOM that holds up to an audit.
Keep proof with every order
For each batch, keep the module maker declaration that names the cell source and its List-II status. If a DISCOM or auditor asks how your project meets the mandate, that paper trail is your answer. Store it with the purchase order, not in someone's inbox.
Cell-type procurement risk at a glance
This table compares the main cell options on availability, lead-time risk, price risk and List-II status, so you can size your exposure before you quote. Every status marked with an asterisk is a point-in-time read — verify it against the live ALMM list and the current MNRE order.
What should you lock in advance?
You should lock the cell technology, a written supply commitment, and the price and lead time in the purchase order — well before you need the panels. Loose plans break when supply is tight. Treat each of these as a step, not a hope. Here is the order to do them in.
Confirm the mandate status
Check whether the List-II cell rule applies to your project as of bid date. The effective date is around 1 June 2026, but it faced deferment requests and court action — confirm the latest MNRE order.
Fix your cell technology early
Decide TOPCon or Mono PERC before you quote. The choice drives availability, lead time and price, so freezing it late leaves you exposed to whatever the market has.
Get written supply commitments
Ask your module maker for a written allocation tied to your project volume and dates. A verbal "we will have stock" is not a plan you can build a schedule on.
Lock price and lead time in the PO
Put the price, quantity and delivery window in the purchase order, not in an email thread. Build in a buffer for slippage on the cell side.
Order against your real pipeline
Stage orders to match jobs you have actually won, plus a small safety stock. Over-ordering ties up cash; under-ordering stalls commissioning.
How big are the lead-time and price risks?
Lead-time and price risks are both real, because tight cell supply lets sellers stretch delivery and hold firm on price. When domestic cells are scarce, your module maker may push your delivery window out, or ask for a higher price than you assumed at bid. Either one can break a fixed-price EPC contract.
Lead time can blow your schedule
A slipped cell delivery delays the module, which delays commissioning, which can delay your payment milestone. If your project has a deadline tied to the mandate or a tariff, a late panel is expensive. Build a buffer into every schedule and order before you are desperate.
Price moves can erase your margin
If you bid a job at one cell price and the market moves, the gap comes out of your margin. Lock the price in the purchase order, not in conversation. For a deeper look at domestic versus imported cost, see our cost and lead-time guide.
What are your alternatives if cells run short?
Your alternatives are switching to Mono PERC, staging projects around supply, or using imported cells only on non-mandate work. Each has a catch, so pick by the job. If a covered project needs List-II cells and TOPCon is scarce, Mono PERC from an enlisted maker is usually the cleanest swap.
Mono PERC as the safety valve
Mono PERC is more widely enlisted and easier to source, so it is the natural fallback when TOPCon is tight. You lose a little efficiency, but you keep the project moving and compliant. Just confirm the specific maker is on List-II for your model before you switch.
Imported cells stay off-limits for mandate jobs
Imported cells are cheap and available, but they are not on List-II. For any project that the mandate covers, imported cells do not count, full stop. Keep them for jobs the rule does not touch, and never mix them into a covered BOM. Confirm coverage against the current MNRE order.
Stage your pipeline around supply
If cells are short, sequence your won jobs so the ones with the nearest deadlines get the available cells first. A simple, ranked queue beats a scramble. This only works if you can see all your orders and deadlines in one view, which is where a single platform helps.
How do you read the live List-II?
You read List-II by going to the MNRE site, opening the cell list, and matching the exact maker name, model and capacity to your BOM. The ALMM lists are published and updated by MNRE. A maker that was enlisted last quarter may have changed status, so never trust an old screenshot.
Match the exact entry, every time
Small differences matter. A maker may be enlisted for one model and capacity but not another. Match the full entry, note the enlistment date, and re-check before each order. Our guide to checking the ALMM list shows the step-by-step, and the manufacturers guide explains how to read enlisted cell makers.
Watch the mandate date and any deferment
The List-II cell rule is set to take effect around 1 June 2026, but that date drew deferment requests and court action, including a Karnataka High Court petition. Do not treat it as fully settled. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order — status as of 20 June 2026 is still contested.
How SuryaHub helps you plan cell procurement
SuryaHub keeps your pipeline, BOM and orders in one place, so you can match scarce cells to the jobs that need them first. When supply is tight, the EPCs who win are the ones who can see every won job, deadline and order at once — and order against reality, not guesses. That is what our procurement and inventory module is built to do.
To be clear, SuryaHub is pre-revenue. Our only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and any AI-assisted features are on the roadmap, not shipped. The capacities, dates and List-II statuses on this page are point-in-time — always confirm them against the current MNRE order and the live ALMM list before you commit a purchase order.
Match scarce cells to the right jobs
See how SuryaHub links your pipeline, BOM and orders in one view.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is there really a TOPCon cell shortage under ALMM List-II?+
Yes, domestic TOPCon cell supply is tight relative to module demand under ALMM List-II. India has far more module capacity than enlisted cell capacity, and much of the listed cell capacity is older Mono PERC. Verify current numbers against the live ALMM list and the latest MNRE order.
When does the ALMM List-II cell mandate take effect?+
The ALMM List-II cell mandate is set to take effect around 1 June 2026, but the date faced deferment requests and court proceedings such as a Karnataka High Court petition. Do not treat it as fully settled. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 June 2026.
Should an EPC choose TOPCon or Mono PERC for ALMM List-II jobs?+
Both can be List-II compliant if the cell maker is enlisted, so choose by availability and risk. TOPCon gives higher efficiency but tighter supply and price risk. Mono PERC is easier to source today. Verify enlisted status on the live ALMM list before you quote either.
How far ahead should EPCs plan cell procurement in 2026?+
Plan cell procurement six to nine months ahead of commissioning when supply is tight. Lock your cell technology, get written supply commitments from your module maker, and fix price and lead time in the purchase order. Order against jobs you have actually won, plus a small safety stock.
Can imported cells be used to beat the cell shortage?+
Imported cells are easy to source but they are not on ALMM List-II, so they cannot meet the List-II mandate for projects that require it. Use imported cells only for non-mandate work. For List-II jobs you must use cells from an enlisted domestic maker. Confirm against the current MNRE order.
How do I check if a cell maker is on ALMM List-II?+
Check the live ALMM list on the MNRE website, which publishes List-I modules and List-II cells separately. Match the exact maker name, model and capacity to your BOM, and note the enlistment date. The list changes, so treat any snapshot as point-in-time and re-check before each order.
Sources & references
Capacity figures, the mandate date and List-II statuses come from primary government and industry sources. They move often, so confirm the current numbers and the latest MNRE order before you act on anything here.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders, List-II effective date and any deferment notices.
- The live ALMM List-I and List-II ↗
Enlisted module and cell makers, updated by MNRE.
- Mercom India research & news ↗
Operational cell capacity estimates and policy coverage.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE ALMM & industry sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Capacity, dates and List-II statuses are taken from the sources above and re-checked regularly. All such figures are point-in-time and must be verified against the live ALMM list and the current MNRE order. The mandate date and any deferment are contested as of 20 June 2026. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots, and AI features are roadmap.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.