The amendment also mandates the domestic location of R&D centres, data hubs and servers to fortify the cybersecurity infrastructure.
In a bid to further strengthen India’s wind energy sector, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has renamed the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers of Wind Turbines (RLMM) to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind), or ALMM (Wind).
Originally introduced in November 2018, RLMM aimed to ensure the quality, reliability and energy security of wind turbines installed across the country. It has been instrumental in promoting domestic manufacturing, which currently stands at over 20 GW.
Under the revised framework announced on Thursday, adherence to the ALMM (Wind) list will now be mandatory for major wind turbine components, such as blades, towers, gearboxes, generators and special bearings (main, pitch and yaw), used in manufacturing.
A separate ALMM (Wind Turbine Components) list will be issued by MNRE to guide compliance.
Critically, the amendment also mandates that wind turbine R&D centres, data centres and servers be located within India to bolster cybersecurity infrastructure. This requirement, however, will not apply to wind projects already bid out, as well as captive, open access, commercial & industrial, or third-party sale projects that are commissioned within 18 months from the date of the amendment’s issuance.
To encourage innovation and indigenisation, new wind turbine manufacturers and models will be exempt from mandatory component usage for a cumulative capacity of 800 MW over two years. This is intended to promote technological advancements and enhance performance efficiency not currently available through domestic sources.
The ALMM mechanism was first introduced for the solar energy sector in 2019, targeting quality control and reliability for photovoltaic modules deployed under government-supported and open-access projects.
The official amendment is available on MNRE’s website or can be accessed here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2150874