Govt Cut Application Fee by 80% for Solar Equipment Makers, Doubles Enlisting Period Under Approved List

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken main reforms within the ‘Approved List of Models and Manufactures for Solar Photovoltaic Modules’ (ALMM) together with a pointy 80 per cent discount in software payment in addition to doubling enlisting validity.

The MNRE has give you a lot of reforms in its ALMM mechanism for Solar Photovoltaic Modules, a ministry assertion mentioned.

The reforms are primarily geared toward lowering the price to photo voltaic PV producers, time between software to enlistment in addition to compliance burden and rising ease of doing enterprise in the entire ALMM course of.

The main reforms embody the discount in software payment by 80 per cent; a considerable discount in inspection payment, with a discount in sure circumstances being as excessive as 70 per cent and an exemption from manufacturing unit inspection in case of enlistment of further fashions in ALMM that are just like these already enlisted by the applicant, however having decrease wattage.

The reforms additionally included permitting the producers to withdraw functions previous to manufacturing unit inspection, with a refund of 90 per cent of the appliance payment and a rise in ALMM enlistment validity from two years to 12 months years.

The ministry additionally offered for a grant of provisional enlistment in ALMM inside seven days of receipt of BIS registration and a time restrict of two months for manufacturing unit enlistment and remaining enlistment, failing which deemed enlistment.

All future ALMM functions to be accompanied by a scanned copy of functions and processing of ALMM functions will begin with out ready for the submission of onerous copies, which will be submitted subsequently, the ministry offered.

The reforms present for end-use category-wise minimal module effectivity thresholds for enlistment in ALMM.

For occasion the Utility/ Grid Scale Power Plants may have a minimum of 20 per cent module effectivity.

Similarly, the rooftop and photo voltaic pumping may have a minimum of 19.50 per cent module effectivity and the benchmark for photo voltaic lighting will likely be 19 per cent.

New and Renewable Energy Secretary B S Bhalla mentioned that the modifications within the ALMM for photovoltaic modules would improve the benefit of doing enterprise and assist in ramping up the home manufacturing of photo voltaic photovoltaic modules for catering to the present and future demand.

“The PLI Scheme has resulted in not only boosting the domestic manufacturing capacity of solar modules but also vertical integration of the value chain in India. We have already declared the bid trajectory of inviting bids of 50 GW renewables each year for the next 5 years. This includes 40 GW of Solar energy capacity.

“The bid trajectory is aimed at providing a fillip to the RE manufacturing industry in the country by indicating the demand that would be created. The easing of the ALMM charges and regulations is a step in the direction of enhancing the Ease of Doing Business, lessening the compliance burden and reducing the charges incurred in various processes of listing under ALMM,” Bhalla said.

Since solar PV power installations are set up for a period of 25 years and solar PV cells and modules used in plants require long term warranty, it is desirable to ensure that such products are indeed made in units in which production has been claimed.

It is possible that some units may claim production of solar cells & modules produced or made elsewhere.

The reliability of producer is essential to protect the consumer interests and ensure larger energy security of the Country.

Accordingly, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued “Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2019” on January 2, 2019.

The ALMM Order states that ALMM shall consist of LIST-I, specifying models and manufacturers of Solar PV Modules and LIST-II, specifying models and manufacturers of Solar PV Cells.

The first ALMM List for photo voltaic PV modules was issued on March 10, 2021. ALMM List for photo voltaic PV cells has not but been issued.

Only the models and manufacturers included in ALMM List-I (of solar PV modules) are eligible for use in Government Projects/ Government assisted Projects/ Projects under Government Schemes & Programmes/ Open Access / Net-Metering Projects, installed in the country, including Projects set up for sale of electricity to Government under the Guidelines issued by Central Government under section 63 of Electricity Act, 2003 and amendment thereof.

The word ‘Government’ includes Central Government, State Governments, Central Public Sector Enterprises, State Public Sector Enterprises and, Central and State Organizations / Autonomous bodies.

However, from March 10, 2023, the ALMM order has been kept in abeyance for one financial year, i.e. FY 2023-24. Thus, projects commissioned by March 31, 2024 will be exempted from the requirement of procuring solar PV modules from ALMM.

As on date, the ALMM List consists of 91 no of module manufacturing facilities (all domestic) with their aggregate solar PV module manufacturing capacity of 22,389 MW per year.

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