[SMM PV News] Reliance Industries Debuts HJT Cells in India’s ALMM List-II with 25.40% Efficiency

With the recent additions, India’s ALMM List-II now features 29.9 GW of enlisted solar cell capacity. Notable updates include Jupiter Solartech increasing its total capacity to 1.77 GW and Websol Energy doubling its enlisted capacity to 1.202 GW in West Bengal. The mandatory implementation of ALMM for solar cells is set to begin on June 1, 2026. This regulatory framework is designed to bolster domestic supply chain security for government-backed projects while incentivizing Indian manufacturers to adopt advanced, high-efficiency cell technologies.

Iron-ore giant Fortescue is accelerating the delivery of what it describes as the world's first fully integrated green energy grid dedicated to heavy industry. The off-grid system, slated for completion by late 2028, will feature 1.2 GW of solar, over 600 MW of wind, and 4 GWh to 5 GWh of BESS capacity. Fortescue expects to save $100 million in fossil fuel costs by next year and achieve 24-hour fossil-free operations in the Pilbara by 2027. Leveraging proprietary AI-driven optimization, the company claims it can replicate this 2 GW-scale green grid model globally for less than $2.5 billion, with significant interest already reported from hyperscalers and sovereign entities.

The St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has launched a tender for the Basseterre Valley project, marking the nation’s first utility-scale solar-plus-storage initiative. The project features 50 MW of solar PV coupled with a 30.5 MW/30.5 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). Located east of the capital, Basseterre, the project is being managed by the government-owned utility to bolster energy security and curb reliance on imported fuels. According to IRENA, St. Kitts and Nevis had only 5 MW of cumulative solar capacity at the end of last year. General Manager Clement Williams noted that this large-scale deployment represents a major step toward the country’s renewable energy transition.