Effective June 23, 2026, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued an office memorandum allowing provisional commissioning of solar projects that are awaiting approval under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II, providing temporary relief to developers facing regulatory uncertainty.
What Changed
In an office memorandum dated June 23, 2026, MNRE ruled that projects installed before June 1, 2026 but unable to commission due to delays in obtaining ALMM-related approvals may be granted provisional commissioning while their exemption requests are under consideration. This clarification follows an earlier decision in which MNRE stated that no blanket extension would be granted beyond June 1 for compliance with ALMM List-II requirements. According to the source, several implementing agencies, distribution companies, and state authorities had subsequently withheld commissioning approvals for projects whose exemption applications were still pending.
The one-month window allows projects that have already applied for ALMM List-II exemption through the MNRE portal and are awaiting a decision to be provisionally commissioned.
Who Is Affected
This relief directly impacts:
- Solar project developers that installed systems before June 1, 2026 but could not commission them due to pending ALMM approvals.
- Implementing agencies, distribution companies, and state authorities that were withholding commissioning approvals, recognition of commercial operation date (COD), State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) registrations, or open-access permissions.
- Renewable energy investors concerned about stranded capacity.
The relief is not a blanket extension; it only applies to projects that have already submitted an exemption application through the MNRE portal and are awaiting a decision.
Compliance Obligations and Deadlines
To benefit from the provisional commissioning relief, project developers must:
- Have installed the solar project before June 1, 2026.
- Have submitted an ALMM List-II exemption application via the MNRE portal prior to the memorandum.
- Ensure their applications remain pending a final decision from MNRE.
The provisional commissioning is valid for one month from June 23, 2026. During this period, eligible projects are permitted to generate, inject, wheel, bank, and settle electricity under applicable regulations.
Authorities are directed not to withhold commissioning approvals, COD recognition, SLDC registrations, or open-access permissions solely because an ALMM exemption application remains pending.
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Effective date of memorandum | June 23, 2026 |
| Installation deadline for eligibility | Before June 1, 2026 |
| Required action | Exemption application submitted via MNRE portal, awaiting decision |
| Relief duration | One month from June 23, 2026 |
| Permitted activities | Generation, injection, wheeling, banking, settlement |
| Authorities’ obligation | Not to withhold approvals due to pending ALMM exemption |
Industry Implications
According to the source, the move is expected to prevent already-installed solar capacity from remaining stranded while the government processes pending ALMM exemption requests. For project developers, the one-month window provides a buffer to start generating revenue and avoid financial losses associated with idle assets. Implementing agencies and distribution companies must adjust internal processes to comply with the directive and avoid unnecessary delays. The MNRE office memorandum serves as the primary guidance document for all stakeholders navigating this interim period.
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