Agrivoltaics: Can India put solar panels on farms without hurting crop yields?, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• The Indian government plans to introduce agrivoltaics under Phase 2 of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) scheme.
• Union New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that approximately 30% of India's 150 million hectares of cropland could be suitable for agrivoltaic projects.
• MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi estimated India's potential agrivoltaic capacity at 1-2 terawatts (TW) or 1000-2000 gigawatts (GW).
• Agrivoltaic projects are 25-30% more expensive than conventional ground-mounted solar projects due to additional infrastructure.
• Initial assessments suggest agrivoltaics are suitable for fruits and leafy vegetables but not for crops like rice and sugarcane.

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Detailed Insights:

• Agrivoltaics combine solar power generation with agriculture on the same land by installing elevated solar panels.
• Panels are typically installed at a height of 3.5 to 4 meters to allow for agricultural operations and machinery movement underneath.
• This approach aims to address land shortages for solar projects while enabling farmers to continue cultivation and earn additional income from electricity generation.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the need for a policy framework that protects small and marginal farmers, who constitute over 85% of India's farming community.
• The policy must ensure farmers do not lose control of their land or experience a decline in crop production, with pilot project impacts needing thorough assessment before scaling up.
• PM-KUSUM, launched in 2019, is a flagship scheme to solarise irrigation and enhance farmers' income by promoting solar energy in agriculture.
• The scheme aims to provide energy and water security to farmers, reduce dependence on diesel, and lower environmental pollution.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Agrivoltaics: A system that integrates solar panel installation with agricultural land use, allowing for simultaneous electricity generation and crop cultivation.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM): A Government of India scheme launched in 2019 to promote solar energy in the agricultural sector, aiming to provide energy security to farmers and de-dieselise the farm sector.