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➔ Agrivoltaics (AgriPV) Dual-Use Integration of Solar Energy and Agriculture (UPSC/RAS/PSI)

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  • Nodal Ministries / Agencies- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, ICAR-IARI, and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)

Macro Context & Dual-Use Concept of Agrivoltaics

  1. Significance of the Agricultural Sector- Agriculture provides livelihoods for approximately 46.1 per cent of India's population, with the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the Agriculture and Allied Sector estimated to reach ₹52.08 lakh crore in 2025–26.
  2. Vast Land Base- India's reported land area covers 306.96 million hectares, of which ~55% is agricultural land, featuring a net sown area of 138.99 million hectares and gross cropped area of 217.88 million hectares.
  3. Defining Agrivoltaics (AgriPV)- Also known as agrisolar or dual-use solar, it co-locates crop cultivation or livestock rearing with solar photovoltaic electricity generation on the same parcel of land.
  4. Elevated Solar Architecture- Solar panels are mounted on elevated structures high enough to permit sunlight, rainfall, and the unhindered movement of farm machinery underneath.
  5. Partial Shading Benefits- Strategic panel spacing provides partial shade that protects crops from extreme heat stress and reduces soil moisture evaporation in arid or semi-arid zones.
  6. Dual Income Stream- Optimizes land-use efficiency by supplying electricity for on-farm irrigation while enabling farmers to earn additional revenue by feeding surplus power back into the grid.

India's Potential, GIS Mapping & Crop Compatibility

  1. Massive Theoretical Potential- India's agrivoltaic potential is estimated between 3,000 GW and nearly 14,000 GW, underscoring the massive scale available at the intersection of farming and clean energy.
  2. Current Operational Footprint- As of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaics projects with an installed capacity of 37.54 megawatts, alongside 10 pilot projects under development across diverse agro-climatic zones.
  3. GIS-Identified Land Base- A GIS-based national screening identified 47.35 million hectares of "restricted cropland" suitable for AgriPV after applying strict environmental, agronomic, and technical filters.
  4. High-Potential States- States offering the most favorable combinations of solar irradiance, land availability, and horticultural intensity include Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh (accounting for nearly 50% of India's AgriPV potential).
  5. Moderate-Potential States- Favorable conditions also exist in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar, and West Bengal.
  6. Crop Suitability- Horticultural crops specifically fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants exhibit high compatibility with partial shade conditions.

Multi-Faceted Advantages of AgriPV

  1. Amplified Crop Yields- Partial shading helps mitigate extreme thermal stress, creating microclimates favorable for specific shade-tolerant and high-value vegetable crops.
  2. Water Use Efficiency- Reduced soil evaporation rates preserve sub-surface moisture, supporting vital water conservation in drought-prone agricultural belts.
  3. Substantial Income Diversification- Dual-land productivity transitions farming from sole reliance on seasonal monsoons and crop prices, with potential farm earnings rising from ~₹60,000 per acre to over ₹1 lakh per acre.
  4. Reliable Rural Energy Access- Decentralized solar generation guarantees daytime power for agricultural water pumps, eliminating dependency on erratic grid supplies or expensive, polluting diesel generators.
  5. Livestock Comfort & Pasture Management- In pastoral setups, elevated panels provide shade for livestock comfort while enabling natural vegetation management under grazing layouts.
  6. Climate Mitigation Contribution- Displaces fossil-fuel-based grid electricity, directly advancing India's commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and net-zero targets.

Central Policy Frameworks & Institutional Initiatives

  1. PM-KUSUM Scheme- Launched in February 2019 with a central financial assistance outlay of ₹34,422 crore, facilitating decentralized solar power generation, solarizing agricultural pumps, and enabling farmers to monetize surplus solar energy.

  2. Centre of Excellence on Agrivoltaics- Established jointly by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and ICAR’s Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to spearhead research, field demonstrations, and capacity building (including a 100 kW pilot at IARI).
  3. India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA)- Anchored since 2023 by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) with over 40 members, serving as a multi-stakeholder platform for policy advocacy, pilot scale-up, and knowledge dissemination.
  4. 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026- Hosted in New Delhi (October 21–23, 2026) at Bharat Mandapam under the theme "Powering the Global South," uniting global researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders.
  5. Technology Customization- Continuous research into tracker systems, interspace layouts, and adjustable panel tilts to optimize both photovoltaic efficiency and light transmission for crops.
  6. Institutional Synergy- Bridges the operational mandates of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to formulate unified national guidelines.

State-Specific Innovations & Regional Schemes

    1. Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 (Maharashtra)- Drives decentralized solar generation through 16,000 MW of solar projects across 35,000 acres of government and private land dedicated to daytime agricultural power supply.
    2. Kisan Suryoday Yojana (Gujarat)- Expands solar infrastructure to provide farmers with reliable daytime power supply for agricultural activities for up to 16 hours daily (5-00 AM to 9-00 PM).
    3. Surya Raitha Scheme (Karnataka)- Promotes solar-powered irrigation pumps that secure water access while allowing participating farmers to export and earn revenue from surplus solar energy.
    4. Targeted Regional Adaptations- States tailor AgriPV models to local cropping patterns, such as integrating solar panels with spice cultivation in the south or horticulture in western arid zones.
    5. Decentralized Grid Stabilization- State-level solar integration reduces aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses for state electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) by generating power closer to rural consumption points.
    6. State-Level Financial Incentives- Several provincial administrations offer capital subsidies and expedited land-use conversion approvals for integrated agrivoltaic installations.

Strategic Significance

  1. Resolving the Food vs. Fuel Land Conflict- Agrivoltaics elegantly sidesteps the contentious debate over whether arable land should be utilized for food crops or solar parks by merging both on a single footprint.
  2. Climate-Smart Agrarian Adaptation- Provides an essential adaptation mechanism against extreme weather volatility, unseasonal heatwaves, and declining groundwater tables.
  3. Boosting Rural Non-Farm Incomes- Helps achieve the national objective of doubling farmers' incomes by adding a predictable, weather-independent income stream from energy generation.
  4. Alleviating Agricultural Power Subsidies- Supplying solar energy directly to farm pumps during daytime hours reduces the fiscal burden of massive agricultural electricity subsidies borne by state governments.
  5. Structural Challenges to Address- Key hurdles include high initial capital expenditure (CapEx) for elevated structures, the need for customized micro-machinery for farming under panels, clear long-term land lease regulations, and DISCOM grid-connection bottlenecks.
  6. A Pathway for the Global South- As emphasized at the 2026 World Conference, India's scalable agrivoltaic frameworks offer a replicable model for developing tropical nations balancing food security with rapid decarbonization.

Source: PIB