The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited stakeholder comments on a draft proposal to introduce a standardized nomenclature for solar photovoltaic cell models included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List II.

Stakeholders can submit their feedback by August 13, 2026.

Under the proposal, every solar cell model listed under ALMM List II would be assigned a standardized 14-digit alphanumeric identification code incorporating key technical characteristics, including the origin of the wafer, ingot, and polysilicon, cell technology, wafer size, number of busbars, and a manufacturer-specific identifier.

The nomenclature is intended to provide a unique identification number for every enlisted model while embedding basic technical information about the product within the code itself.

Under the proposed structure, the first three characters of the code will identify the origin of the wafer, ingot, and polysilicon used in manufacturing the solar cell. Each position will use “D” to indicate domestic origin and “F” to indicate foreign origin. The fourth and fifth characters will represent the cell technology, such as Mono PERC (MP), Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) (TC), Heterojunction (HJ), or Back Contact (BC). The next four characters will specify the wafer size using standardized codes such as 0M10, M10R, 0G12, and G12R, followed by two characters indicating the number of busbars. The final three characters will be reserved for manufacturer-specific identifiers, such as product variants, revisions, brand names, or other unique identifiers.

The Ministry has also provided illustrative examples of the proposed nomenclature. The code “DDFTCG12R16R01” represents a TOPCon solar cell manufactured using a domestic wafer and ingot, imported polysilicon, a G12R wafer size, 16 busbars, and a manufacturer-specific identifier “R01.” Another example, “FFFMP0M1010ABC,” represents a Mono PERC solar cell manufactured using imported wafer, ingot, and polysilicon, the standardized 0M10 code representing an M10 wafer size, 10 busbars, and a manufacturer-specific identifier “ABC.”

The standardized nomenclature is envisaged to serve as the unique identification number for every enlisted solar cell model. In addition to facilitating enlistment under ALMM, it is expected to promote uniform identification and traceability of solar cells across the manufacturing value chain and to serve as a common product identifier for regulatory, commercial, and other related purposes.

The Ministry added that the origin information incorporated in the cell model code would also help distinguish between solar modules enlisted under ALMM List I and ALMM List I(a) based on their bill of materials.

ALMM List II currently contains solar cell model names provided by individual manufacturers. In the absence of a prescribed standard nomenclature, manufacturers follow their own proprietary naming conventions, resulting in significant variations across manufacturers and making it difficult to identify the technical characteristics of solar cells on a uniform basis.

The proposed nomenclature will introduce uniformity in the identification of solar cell models, improve traceability across the sector, and assign a unique identification number to every model enlisted under ALMM List II while incorporating basic technical information into the model name itself.

As per the MNRE ALMM List-II update dated July 22, 2026, the total ALMM-listed domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity is 31.76 GW.

Recently, MNRE extended the exemption from the ALMM List-II requirement for solar cells used in net metering and open access renewable energy projects commissioned on or before December 31, 2026. The Ministry clarified that the exemption is limited to these project categories and does not constitute a blanket extension of the ALMM List-II implementation timeline.