India’s solar module manufacturers are seeking more time to comply with mandatory domestic solar cell sourcing requirements, citing a shortage of approved cells available to independent manufacturers. The Renewable Energy Manufacturers Association of India (REMAI), which represents non-integrated solar module manufacturers with a combined nameplate capacity of 160 GW, has reportedly submitted a representation to NITI Aayog seeking an extension of the compliance timeline until December 2027. The request highlights a supply-chain imbalance that could affect manufacturers that assemble solar modules but do not produce their own cells. The representation and its specific demands have been reported by The Economic Times; the submission itself was not available in the public official documents reviewed.
The issue centres on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework. While List-I covers approved solar PV modules, List-II covers approved solar PV cells. Under the requirement introduced in December 2024, projects covered by the mandate must use modules listed under List-I that incorporate cells sourced from manufacturers approved under List-II. The cell-sourcing requirement took effect on June 1, 2026, subject to specified exemptions for projects already covered by earlier provisions. The policy is intended to deepen domestic manufacturing, improve supply-chain reliability and reduce dependence on imported components.
The scale of the mismatch is particularly pronounced in Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) technology. According to figures cited by REMAI in its reported representation, India has around 95 GW of producible TOPCon module manufacturing capacity, compared with 15.8 GW of TOPCon cell capacity enlisted under ALMM List-II. The association has also said that less than 2% of producible TOPCon module capacity is available to the open market, with most of the remaining output being consumed internally by vertically integrated manufacturers that operate both cell and module facilities. This limited merchant supply could leave standalone module producers competing for a relatively small pool of compliant cells. These figures are industry-association claims reported by The Economic Times, rather than independently verified government capacity totals.
The government has already made limited adjustments to the implementation framework, but has not granted a blanket extension. In May 2026, MNRE said that the June 1 deadline would remain in place, while allowing eligible renewable energy project developers to seek case-specific relief where they had taken substantial implementation steps, including land acquisition, financial closure, connectivity arrangements or installation of modules. In July, the ministry extended the exemption from ALMM List-II until December 31, 2026, for specified net-metering and open-access renewable energy projects. It said the measure would help standalone module manufacturers protect investments tied up in existing inventories and provide additional time to increase sourcing from listed cell producers. The relief applies to the specified project categories and does not amount to a general extension of the cell-sourcing mandate.
The government’s published figures indicate that approved cell manufacturing capacity has been expanding, although this does not necessarily resolve the availability problem for independent module makers. A PIB update reported that around 24 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity had been enlisted under ALMM List-II, alongside approximately 144 GW of ALMM-listed module capacity. These are aggregate figures and should not be directly compared with REMAI’s TOPCon-specific estimates. The distinction between total listed capacity, technology-specific capacity and cells actually available for third-party procurement is central to the manufacturers’ argument.
The outcome of REMAI’s request could influence how India balances its domestic manufacturing objectives with the operational needs of smaller and non-integrated producers. An extension could give these manufacturers more time to secure compliant cell supplies, while a change in the timeline could also affect investment planning for companies that have expanded cell production in anticipation of assured domestic demand. As of November 3, 2026, the reported request to NITI Aayog should be treated as an industry proposal; no official approval of the requested extension until December 2027 was identified in the government material reviewed.