ALMM List-II is becoming an increasingly important consideration for solar EPCs in India. As MNRE continues to revise the approved list of solar PV cell manufacturers and issue clarifications for applicable projects, EPCs need to connect procurement, engineering, compliance and commissioning planning more closely. The latest ALMM List-II developments are not simply a procurement issue—they can influence equipment selection, solar project design, documentation and execution planning.
More projects are being developed.
lass=”yoast-text-mark” />>More rooftop and open-access systems are coming online.
>More manufacturers are entering the domestic supply chain.
But along with this growth, one thing is becoming increasingly important for solar EPCs:
Compliance cannot be treated as a procurement-stage formality anymore.
The latest developments around ALMM List-II for solar PV cells are a good example.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced the first ALMM List-II for solar PV cells in July 2025, and the list has since been revised regularly. The latest listed revision is the 8th revision dated July 22, 2026.
At the same time, MNRE issued a July 18, 2026 memorandum providing a limited window until December 31, 2026 for commissioning certain Net-Metering and Open Access renewable-energy projects under the specified ALMM List-II provisions. MNRE explicitly describes this as a limited window, not a blanket extension.
For EPC companies, this is more than a policy update.
It is a reminder that procurement, engineering, project documentation and commissioning timelines are becoming increasingly connected.
What Exactly Is ALMM List-II?
ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.
The ALMM framework has two important lists:
- List-I: Solar PV modules
- List-II: Solar PV cells
MNRE states that the first ALMM List-I for solar PV modules was issued in March 2021, while the first ALMM List-II for solar PV cells was issued in July 2025.
The purpose is not simply to maintain a list of manufacturers.
The broader objective is to create greater confidence around the origin, quality and reliability of products used in solar projects, particularly within projects covered by the applicable ALMM framework. MNRE notes that solar installations are typically designed for long operating lives and that reliable manufacturing and product traceability are important considerations.
For an EPC, however, the practical question is much simpler:
Can the equipment we are planning to procure actually be used for this particular project under the applicable rules?
That question needs to be answered before material reaches the site.
Why Is the Latest ALMM Development Important?
The July 18, 2026 MNRE notice is particularly relevant because it addresses a limited commissioning window for Net-Metering and Open Access renewable-energy projects up to December 31, 2026.
This does not mean that every solar project automatically gets an exemption.
It also does not mean EPCs can ignore ALMM List-II until the end of the year.
The actual project category, applicable provisions, commissioning timeline and documentation still matter.
And this is where the issue becomes interesting for EPCs.
A project may have:
Client approval → Design → Procurement → Material delivery → Installation → Testing → Commissioning
If compliance is checked only at the procurement stage, the EPC may discover a problem after several other decisions have already been made.
That is expensive.
The Real EPC Problem: Procurement Does Not Happen in Isolation
In a solar project, one procurement decision can influence several engineering decisions.
Take a simple example.
An EPC receives an order for a commercial rooftop project.
The initial proposal is prepared using one module specification.
Later, procurement identifies another module with a better commercial price.
The module changes.
At first, this looks like a procurement decision.
But now consider what may also change:
- Module dimensions
- Module wattage
- String configuration
- Number of modules per string
- Inverter loading
- DC/AC ratio
- Roof layout
- Structure arrangement
- Cable routing
- String combiner configuration
- Electrical SLD
- BOQ
- Structural loading
- Installation methodology
Suddenly, a “small” procurement change is no longer small.
This is why EPCs need to look at ALMM and other compliance requirements as part of project planning, not simply as a checklist before commissioning.
A Module Decision Can Become a Design Decision
This is one of the most overlooked realities in solar EPC projects.
A module is not just a product that gets purchased and placed on a roof.
Its technical characteristics become inputs into the engineering design.
For example, changing the module can affect the physical layout.
A higher-wattage module may have different dimensions.
That can change:
Roof coverage → module count → string configuration → inverter selection → cable length → structure arrangement
On a ground-mounted project, the implications can extend into:
Table configuration → row spacing → land utilization → DC collection → cable routing → structure quantities
This is why a good EPC should not think in isolated departments.
Engineering and procurement need to communicate before decisions are frozen.
What Happens When Procurement Comes Before Design?
This is where many EPC projects become difficult.
Imagine an EPC has already negotiated a good price for a particular module.
The purchase order is released.
Material is scheduled.
Then the engineering team receives the final module datasheet.
The dimensions are slightly different.
The electrical characteristics are different.
The original string design no longer works as planned.
Now the team has to revise the design.
A change in the module can trigger several downstream revisions. The inverter configuration may need adjustment, while the layout and structural arrangement could also change. In some cases, even the BOQ may need to be updated.
<p>Maybe the client needs to approve the revised drawing.
And if material has already been purchased, the EPC has very little flexibility left.
The problem was not necessarily the module.
The problem was the sequence of decisions.
Smart EPCs Are Moving Toward Design-Led Procurement
The better approach is not complicated.
Before procurement is finalized, the EPC should have a clear engineering basis.
That means understanding:
1. Project Category
First identify what type of project you are dealing with.
Is it:
- Rooftop?
- Commercial & industrial?
- Net-metering?
- Open access?
- Ground-mounted?
- Government-related?
- Captive?
- Utility-scale?
The applicable compliance requirements can differ by project structure, so assumptions should not be made casually.
2. Approved Equipment
The selected module and cell configuration should be checked against the applicable requirements before the project moves too far into procurement.
MNRE’s ALMM framework is updated periodically, and List-II has already gone through multiple revisions since its introduction in 2025.
That means an EPC cannot simply rely on an old list saved in a folder six months ago.
The project team needs to work with the applicable and current information.
3. Design Freeze
Once the major equipment is selected, the engineering team can properly freeze:
- Module configuration
- String design
- Inverter configuration
- Layout
- Cable routing
- Electrical SLD
- Structural arrangement
- BOQ
This creates a much more stable procurement process.
Why ALMM Compliance Should Be Considered During Design
This is where the discussion becomes directly relevant to solar design.
A project design should not be developed independently from the equipment that will actually be procured.
Consider a rooftop project.
The engineer prepares a layout using a particular module size.
The layout looks perfect.
Then procurement replaces the module.
The new module is wider.
Now some modules no longer fit within the planned roof section.
The EPC may lose usable roof space.
Or access pathways may become narrower.</p>
Or the number of modules per row may chang
e.
Or the structure arrangement may need revision.
This can create a chain reaction.
One change at procurement can become five changes in engineering.
And every additional revision consumes time.
The Hidden Cost of Design Changes
EPCs often calculate project cost in terms of:
- Modules
- Inverters
- Structures
- Cables
- Labour
- Logistics
But design changes also have a cost.
Design changes consume more than engineering hours. They also require additional coordination, drawing revisions and sometimes fresh approvals. Procurement decisions may need to be revisited, while site teams can face confusion when updated information reaches them late.
And sometimes there is actual material wastage.
The cost may not appear as a separate line item on the project budget.
But it still affects the EPC’s margin.
This is why engineering quality is also a margin-protection strategy.
The December 31, 2026 Window Should Not Be Treated as Extra Time
The latest MNRE notice provides a limited window until December 31, 2026 for the specified Net-Metering and Open Access projects.
It is tempting to interpret this simply as:
“We have time until December.”
But an EPC project does not move from order to commissioning overnight.
There are multiple stages between them.
For example:
Client approval
↓
Site survey
↓
Engineering
↓
Equipment selection
↓
Procurement
↓
Material delivery
↓
Installation
↓
Testing
↓
Approvals</strong>
↓
Commissioning</p>
Late engineering can push procurement schedules back.
Procurement delays can then affect installation timelines.
As installation moves behind schedule, the pressure on commissioning increases.
So the deadline should be treated as a project-planning constraint, not as a reason to postpone decisions.
What Should EPCs Do Differently?
The current ALMM environment offers a useful lesson.
Instead of asking:
“Can we procure this module?”
ask:
“Can this module be procured, engineered, installed and commissioned for this project under the applicable requirements?”
That is a much better question.
A practical EPC workflow can look like this:
Step 1: Identify the project category
Understand the project’s regulatory and commercial structure.
Step 2: Check applicable compliance requirements
Do not assume that one ALMM rule applies identically to every project.
Step 3: Freeze the equipment basis
Confirm the module, cell and inverter specifications that will form the engineering basis.
Step 4: Complete detailed design
Prepare the relevant electrical, structural and layout drawings around the selected equipment.
Step 5: Finalize the BOQ
Procurement should work from an engineering-backed quantity and specification basis.
Step 6: Control changes
If equipment changes after design freeze, evaluate the engineering impact before approving the change.
Step 7: Keep documentation aligned
The equipment, drawings, BOQ and project documentation should tell the same story.
Where Professional Solar Design Makes a Difference
This is also where the role of a design consultancy becomes valuable.
A solar EPC does not always need another company to tell it how to install a module.
What it needs is a reliable engineering process that helps turn a project requirement into something the execution team can actually build.
That can include:
- Pre-design for client proposals
- 3D solar layouts
- Rooftop detailed engineering
- Ground-mount design
- Electrical SLDs
- String layouts
- Cable routing
- Structural design
- Structural analysis
- Fabrication drawings
- BOM and BOQ support
- Execution-ready drawings
- Design revisions based on approved equipment
At Eden Solar Design, this is the role we focus on: supporting EPCs with professional solar design and engineering so that procurement and execution are based on a clear technical foundation.
The objective is not to complicate the EPC process.
It is the opposite.
The objective is to make the process more predictable.
Procurement Should Know What Engineering Is Buying
One of the simplest ways to improve project execution is to create better communication between procurement and engineering.
Before an equipment purchase is finalized, engineering should know:
- What exact module is being considered?
- What are its dimensions?
- What are its electrical characteristics?
- Is it compatible with the planned string design?
- Does the layout still work?
- Does the structure accommodate it?
- Does the BOQ need revision?
- Does the SLD need revision?
- Are project-specific compliance requirements satisfied?
This does not mean engineering should control every procurement decision.
It means procurement decisions should be made with engineering visibility.
That distinction is important.
ALMM Is Bigger Than a Compliance Checklist
The current ALMM developments are a good example of how the Indian solar industry is becoming more interconnected.
A policy change can influence procurement.
Procurement can influence engineering.
Engineering can influence execution.
Execution can influence commissioning.
And commissioning can influence project revenue and client satisfaction.
That means EPC companies need to think beyond individual departments.
The strongest projects are usually not the ones where every department works independently.
They are the ones where:
Sales → Engineering → Procurement → Execution → Commissioning
are working from the same project information.
The Bigger Lesson for Indian Solar EPCs
India’s solar market is becoming more structured.
As the industry grows, EPCs will face more equipment choices, more compliance requirements, more project types and more pressure to deliver quickly.
That creates a new competitive advantage.
Not simply:
Who can install faster?
But:
Who can plan better before installation begins?
Controls design changes can control procurement better.
Controls procurement can execute with fewer surprises.
Executes with fewer surprises can protect project margins.
And an EPC that consistently delivers predictable projects can build stronger client relationships.
Final Takeaway
ALMM List-II is not simply a matter for the procurement department.
The recent MNRE developments show why solar EPCs need to connect compliance, equipment selection, engineering and commissioning planning much earlier in the project lifecycle. MNRE’s current framework includes a July 2026 limited commissioning window for specified Net-Metering and Open Access projects through December 31, 2026, while the ALMM List-II itself continues to be revised.
For EPCs, the lesson is simple:
Do not wait for procurement or commissioning to discover an engineering problem.
Select the right equipment.
Build the design around confirmed specifications.
Keep drawings, BOQ and procurement aligned.
Control revisions before they reach the site.
Because in a competitive solar market, the cheapest mistake is the one that never reaches the execution stage.
And that is exactly where professional solar engineering can make a difference.
Better design does not simply create better drawings.
It creates a more predictable project.
Eden Solar Design supports solar EPCs, installers and project developers with professional solar design and engineering services—from pre-design and 3D layouts to detailed electrical, structural and execution-ready drawings.
