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MNRE Revises Prototype Wind Turbine Rules, Allows DISCOM Power Procurement and Aligns Installations with ALMM Framework

New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has revised its guidelines governing the installation of prototype wind turbine models, introducing important regulatory changes that allow electricity generated by prototype turbines to be sold to distribution companies (DISCOMs) and linking future installations to approval under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM-Wind).

The amendments, issued through an Office Memorandum, modify Paragraphs 5 and 8 of the Revised Guidelines for Installation of Prototype Wind Turbine Models, which were originally released on June 12, 2025. The revised provisions are intended to streamline the testing and commercialisation process for new wind turbine technologies while strengthening quality assurance standards for India's wind energy sector.

Under the updated Paragraph 5, developers will continue to be permitted to install a maximum of three prototype wind turbines for synchronization, testing and commissioning of each new turbine model. However, the revised guidelines now allow the electricity generated from these prototype turbines to be procured by DISCOMs or other eligible entities, either at a mutually agreed tariff or at tariffs determined by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) or the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).

Previously, the guidelines only permitted installation of up to three prototype turbines for testing purposes and did not provide any mechanism for the sale or procurement of the electricity produced during the commissioning phase. The amendment is expected to improve project economics by enabling developers to monetize electricity generated while prototype turbines undergo performance evaluation.

The ministry has also updated Paragraph 8, replacing the earlier requirement that commercial production and installation could commence only after the turbine model was included in the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers (RLMM). Under the amended provision, prototype wind turbines can now proceed to installation only after the respective turbine model is included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (Wind), or ALMM (Wind).

The shift reflects the government's ongoing transition to the ALMM framework, which has been introduced to promote the deployment of high-quality, reliable wind turbine models while encouraging domestic manufacturing and improving supply chain transparency. Similar approval mechanisms are already in place for the solar sector through the ALMM for solar photovoltaic modules.

According to the Office Memorandum, all other provisions of the revised prototype wind turbine guidelines remain unchanged, and the amendments have been approved by the competent authority.

The latest revisions are expected to provide greater regulatory clarity for wind turbine manufacturers and project developers by facilitating revenue generation during prototype testing and aligning future commercial installations with India's evolving quality and certification framework. The changes also support the government's broader objective of accelerating renewable energy deployment while ensuring that new technologies meet prescribed technical and performance standards before large-scale commercial adoption.