NEW DELHI: India has achieved a historic milestone by registering 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) a monumental rise from just 2.3 GW in 2014.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, hailed the achievement as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and the success of initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar Modules. He said the milestone strengthens India’s march towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and the nation’s goal of achieving 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
The government’s push for self-reliance in solar PV manufacturing has been backed by a suite of policies — from financial incentives to ensuring a level playing field for domestic players. The catalytic impact of these measures has seen capacity skyrocket over the past decade, placing India firmly on the global renewable energy map.
The ALMM Order, issued on January 2, 2019, first listed solar PV modules in March 2021 with just 8.2 GW capacity across 21 manufacturers. In just over four years, capacity has surged more than twelvefold, now involving 100 manufacturers operating 123 units nationwide.
Industry growth has been fuelled by both established firms and new entrants, many of whom have adopted high-efficiency technologies and vertically integrated operations. This has created a robust, competitive ecosystem capable of meeting India’s domestic demand and tapping export markets.
Officials say the expansion not only marks a domestic manufacturing triumph but also signals India’s rising role in global decarbonisation efforts — with the solar sector now seen as a major pillar of the nation’s clean energy future.
