This solar PV manufacturing boom has driven a near 400 per cent rise in the number of manufacturers, growing from 21 in 2021 to 100 today.
India’s efforts to develop a robust renewable energy equipment manufacturing ecosystem received a major boost with the country attaining 100 GW capacity in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) programme.
Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, described it as remarkable growth from just 2.3 GW capacity in 2014.
“We are building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem. This achievement strengthens our path towards Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and the target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.”
The central government has been pushing to make the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy powerhouse self-reliant, as well as a major export hub in the global value chain. Key initiatives include the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar PV modules, and anti-dumping measures to provide a level playing field to domestic manufacturers.
Commending the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the microblogging platform X , “This is yet another milestone towards self-reliance! It depicts the success of India’s manufacturing capabilities and our efforts towards popularising clean energy.”
The ALMM is a regulatory mechanism introduced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to ensure the quality, reliability, and traceability of solar PV modules, solar cells, and wind turbines.
The ALMM order was issued by MNRE in January 2019, with the first list for solar PV modules published in March 2021, featuring an initial enlisted capacity of around 8.2 GW. Since then, India has witnessed a more than 12-fold increase in solar PV manufacturing.
This expansion has been accompanied by a rise in the number of manufacturers—from 21 in 2021 to 100 today—representing nearly a 400 per cent growth. The 123 units operating across the country are managed by both established companies and new entrants, many of whom have adopted high-efficiency technologies and vertically integrated operations.
In addition to central policy initiatives, this success also reflects the collaborative efforts of state governments and industry stakeholders.
-Manish Pant