Agrivoltaics in India: Farming Under Solar Panels Poised for Growth
Agrivoltaics combines crop cultivation with solar panels above fields, offering Indian farmers stable income and climate resilience despite cost and contract hurdles.
Farmers in India often face unpredictable weather, threatening harvests and incomes. To address this, agrivoltaics—installing solar panels above crops—has emerged as a promising solution.
Explaining Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics combines photovoltaic panels with agriculture, allowing farmers to continue planting beneath elevated solar arrays. Near Delhi, Harpal Dagar agreed to lease part of his land to Sun Master, a solar firm, which mounted panels 3.5m above the ground so he could still cultivate turmeric and other crops.
Benefits for Farmers
Under a 25-year agreement, Dagar earns about $1,200 per acre annually, plus $170 monthly for operating and maintenance work. His total income has tripled, providing financial stability even when monsoons fail or heatwaves strike.
Technical and Financial Challenges
Panels can reduce sunlight by 15–30%, making some staple crops like wheat or rice unviable under dense layouts. Elevated structures add 20–30% to installation costs, putting them out of reach for smallholders without external financing.
Industry and Policy Perspectives
Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO of the National Solar Energy Federation of India, argues that agrivoltaics can reduce irrigation needs, shield crops from heat stress and diversify farmers' revenue streams. He urges government subsidies to make projects more affordable.
In Madhya Pradesh, Manu Srivastava, who oversees solar and agrivoltaic initiatives, stresses the need for clear contracts to protect both farmers and developers over 25-year leases, citing challenges in enforcing long-term agreements.
Early Adopters and Future Outlook
Anand Jain, a medicinal herb farmer, launched his 4.5MW agrivoltaic farm in 2024 with bank loans and government support. He has seen success with strawberries and tomatoes but is still experimenting with other crops. Jain believes a strong public–private partnership is essential for scaling agrivoltaics in India.
By combining crops with overhead solar panels, agrivoltaics offers Indian farmers stable income and climate resilience, but high costs and regulatory hurdles must be overcome.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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