Agrivoltaics offers farmers crops and solar power from the same land

The brief in 5 cards

1. Note1 / 5

   WHY IN NEWS?

   • The 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 21–23 October 2026.
   • Its theme was "Powering the Global South".
   • A PIB explainer set out India's progress and potential in agrivoltaics.
   • As of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaic projects with 37.54 MW of capacity, and 10 pilots under development.
2. Note2 / 5

   HOW AGRIVOLTAICS WORKS

   • Raised panels: Solar panels sit on tall frames so light, rain and machinery reach the crops below.
   • Partial shade: Shade can reduce heat stress and slow water evaporation from soil, depending on crop and climate.
   • Two outputs: Land yields food and electricity at once.
   • Extra income: Farmers can use the power for pumps and sell surplus to the grid.

   Think of it as a field with a second storey: crops on the ground floor, power on the roof.

3. Note3 / 5

   KEY CONCEPTS

   1. What is agrivoltaics?

   Also called agrisolar or dual-use solar, it combines crop or livestock farming with solar power generation on the same land.

   2. Which crops suit it?

   Shade-tolerant crops such as many vegetables, fruits, spices and medicinal plants. Crops needing full sun may lose yield.

   3. What is PM-KUSUM?

   Launched in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan solarises farm pumps and supports small solar plants on farmland. Central support was estimated at about ₹34,422 crore.

   4. What is the difference between net sown and gross cropped area?

   Net sown area counts land sown at least once a year. Gross cropped area counts land sown more than once multiple times.

4. Note4 / 5

   INDIA'S POTENTIAL AND EFFORTS

   • Land base: Net sown area is about 139 million hectares, per 2023-24 land-use statistics.
   • Potential: PIB cites estimates ranging from about 3,000 GW to nearly 14,000 GW.
   • Suitable land: A GIS screening found 47.35 million hectares of cropland suitable after filters.
   • High-potential States: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh hold about half the estimated potential.
   • Research: The National Institute of Solar Energy and ICAR-IARI run a Centre of Excellence, including a 100 kW pilot at IARI.
   • States: Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka run schemes for solar farm power and pumps.
5. Note5 / 5

   CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD

   These are suggested measures, not approved policy.

   • High upfront cost: Raised structures cost more than ground-mounted solar; targeted finance can help.
   • Crop yield risk: Match panel height and spacing to local crops through field trials.
   • Land tenure: Protect small farmers' rights in lease or developer models.
   • Grid access: Ensure timely purchase of surplus power at fair tariffs.
   • Standards: Define agrivoltaics clearly so solar parks do not displace farming in its name.

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