New Delhi, Apr 21 (IANS): The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the effective dates for implementation of Approved Lists of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar PV modules and solar PVs by six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The list will now be finalised by September 30 instead of the earlier date of March 31.

With the objective of building energy security for the country and ensuring reliability of solar PV cells and modules, the MNRE had issued an order for enlistment of their models and manufacturers, complying with the BIS Standards, in ALMM List-I (for solar PV modules) & ALMM L ist-II (for solar PV cells).

This mechanism proposed to have List-I specifying models and manufacturers of solar PV models and List-II specifying models and manufacturers of solar PV Cells.

The ALMM Order stipulates that after effective date, all solar PV power projects which are government-owned/government-assisted/bid out as per Central government's Standard Bidding Guidelines, shall mandatorily procure solar PV cells and modules for such projects from the manufacturers approved and included in the ALMM Lists after effective date.

MNRE has been directing all implementing agencies (of Central & state governments) to explicitly, upfront, include clauses in their tender documents regarding mandatory requirement of procuring solar PV cells and modules only from the ALMM Lists, once the ALMM lists become effective.

It has reiterated that all stakeholders including solar PV cells and modules manufactures, renewable energy (RE) power developers, implementing agencies and RE power procurers, and most importantly, banks & financial institutions involved in lending to RE sector, align their activities in order to comply with the order.