Agri-Voltaics

Key Highlights:

• Agrivoltaics integrates crop cultivation with solar power generation on the same land.
• India has 36 operational agrivoltaics projects with an installed capacity of 37.54 MW as of August 2025.
• The country's agrivoltaic potential is estimated between 3,000 GW and 14,000 GW.
• Farmers' annual earnings could increase from ₹60,000 to over ₹1 lakh per acre through this approach.
• The PM KUSUM scheme encourages solar energy adoption in agriculture, including agrivoltaics.
• The 7th AGRIVOLTAICS WORLD CONFERENCE is scheduled in New Delhi in October 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• Agrivoltaics aims to enhance land-use efficiency, diversify farmer incomes, and contribute to India's clean energy transition.
• It helps meet agricultural energy needs, such as irrigation, reducing dependence on conventional power sources like diesel.
• Systems involve elevated solar structures allowing sunlight, rain, and farm equipment to operate underneath the panels.
• Partial shading from panels helps protect crops from extreme heat and reduces water evaporation from the soil.
• The National Institute of Solar Energy and Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Indian Agricultural Research Institute established a Centre of Excellence on Agrivoltaics.
• The India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA), anchored by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), promotes policy advocacy and pilot projects.
• High-potential states for agrivoltaics include Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
• State-specific initiatives like Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (Maharashtra) and Kisan Suryoday Yojana (Gujarat) promote solar energy in agriculture.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Agrivoltaics: A system that combines agricultural production with solar photovoltaic power generation on the same land.
• Elevated Solar Structures: Solar panels mounted high enough to allow farming activities and sunlight penetration underneath.
• Partial Shading: The effect of solar panels providing shade to crops, reducing heat stress and water loss.