Imagine a farmland that produces not only food but also clean electricity simultaneously. This is the concept behind agrivoltaics, a novel approach that combines agriculture and solar energy. Instead of treating farming and energy production as competitors for land, agrivoltaics finds a way for both to coexist. By installing solar panels above crops or grazing land, the same space can deliver harvests for people and power for the grid. For a country like India, where fertile land is scarce but energy demand is growing, this approach holds immense promise.
Understanding Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaics—sometimes referred to as agri-solar or dual-use solar farming—uses the same land for agricultural activities and solar energy generation. Unlike conventional ground-mounted solar parks that occupy entire fields, agrivoltaic systems place panels in a way that allows crops to grow underneath or livestock to graze freely.
This method was first experimented with in the 1980s and is now being scaled up globally. For India, the model is particularly relevant as it addresses three pressing needs together: food security, clean energy expansion, and climate resilience.
Key Benefits of Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaic projects bring a wide range of advantages for farmers, communities, and the environment:
- Efficient Land Use → Generates both electricity and food from the same piece of land, reducing conflict between agriculture and renewable energy development.
- Higher Crop Resilience → Partial shading reduces heat stress, water evaporation, and soil degradation, improving yields for many crops in dry and hot regions.
- Additional Income Streams → Farmers save on electricity costs, earn by selling surplus solar power, and benefit from new job opportunities in system maintenance.
- Water Conservation → Shaded soil retains more moisture, while water used for cleaning panels can be recycled for irrigation.
- Animal Welfare → Livestock such as goats, poultry, or sheep can graze under solar panels, benefiting from shade and simultaneously controlling vegetation growth.
- Climate Action → Produces renewable energy, cuts carbon emissions, and supports India’s transition away from fossil fuels.
- Better Working Conditions → Solar structures provide shade for labourers, reducing exposure to intense sunlight.
- Biodiversity Support → Pollinator-friendly plants under panels help sustain bees and insects vital for ecosystems.
Applications of Agrivoltaics
Agrivoltaic farming can be implemented in different ways depending on local needs:
- Solar Above Crops → Elevated structures allow crops to grow underneath while generating energy.
- Solar Greenhouses → Photovoltaic panels on rooftops regulate temperature and humidity, reducing reliance on artificial cooling.
- Solar Grazing Systems → Panels installed over grasslands create shaded grazing areas for livestock.
- On-Farm Power Supply → Solar energy can directly run irrigation pumps, lights, and fencing systems.
- Water Management → Solar pumps can extract water for irrigation, especially useful in drought-prone areas.
- Floating Solar + Agriculture → Panels placed on water bodies adjacent to farms can meet power demand without reducing cropland area.
Current Trends in India
India has set an ambitious target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and agrivoltaics is increasingly seen as a practical tool to help reach it. According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), just 1% of India’s agricultural land could host an additional 630 GW of solar power.
At present, about 20 pilot projects exist—mainly in Gujarat, Delhi, and Maharashtra—testing different designs such as elevated panels, wider spacing, and crop-specific arrangements. Early experiments show positive results: yields of some vegetables have increased by 20–30% under solar shade, while farmers report savings in irrigation costs.
New applications are also emerging. In drought-hit regions, solar installations are being linked with aquaculture and irrigation systems. In places like Delhi’s Ujwa village, elevated panel designs have allowed farmers to continue mechanised farming while producing solar power above their fields.
Challenges Facing Agrivoltaics
Despite its benefits, several barriers hinder large-scale adoption of agrivoltaics in India:
- High Investment Costs → Elevated structures and specialised equipment make systems 1.5–2 times more expensive than ground-mounted solar.
- Uncertain Crop Response → Some crops benefit from shading, while staple grains may see lower yields, requiring site-specific trials.
- Design Constraints → Panel height, spacing, and orientation must balance energy output with crop requirements.
- Maintenance & Safety → Farmers may lack technical knowledge for managing solar infrastructure, increasing reliance on external support.
- Soil & Water Concerns → Installation can disturb soil quality; shading alters evapotranspiration patterns, which may not suit every crop.
- Grid & Storage Gaps → Rural areas often lack reliable grid connections, while battery storage remains costly.
- Regulatory Ambiguity → India still lacks clear national guidelines on agrivoltaics, and land-use laws vary across states.
- Farmer Awareness → Many cultivators remain sceptical, fearing risks to crop productivity and disruption of traditional practices.
Policies and Initiatives
Several government programmes and alliances are encouraging agrivoltaic adoption:
- PM-KUSUM Scheme (2019): Provides subsidies for solar pumps and small solar power plants on farmland.
- India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA): Set up by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) to coordinate stakeholders and promote farmer-friendly business models.
- State-Level Programs:
- Maharashtra – MSKVY: Aims to solarise 1,600 MW of feeders by 2026, offering fixed tariffs for farmers.
- Gujarat – SKY Scheme: Farmers earn from selling surplus solar power with heavy government subsidies.
- Karnataka – Surya Raitha: Encourages solar-powered irrigation pumps and income from feeding excess energy into the grid.
- Delhi – Kisan Aay Badhotri Yojana: Farmers lease land for solar projects and receive guaranteed monthly payments.
Agrivoltaics and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Agrivoltaics contributes directly to several United Nations SDGs:
- SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Improves food production resilience.
- SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Expands renewable energy capacity.
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Generates new rural employment.
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Optimises land use and reduces resource conflicts.
- SDG 13 (Climate Action): Cuts emissions and builds adaptation capacity.
- SDG 15 (Life on Land): Supports biodiversity and sustainable land management.
Conclusion
Agrivoltaics represents a transformative shift in how land is used—no longer a choice between food and energy, but a model that delivers both. While challenges around cost, design, and awareness remain, India’s pilot projects show that with the right policies and financing, agrivoltaics can play a major role in tackling rural distress, boosting farmer incomes, and advancing clean energy goals.
By aligning with multiple SDGs, agrivoltaics is not just an innovative technology but a blueprint for sustainable development. If scaled wisely, it could become one of India’s strongest tools in the fight against climate change and resource scarcity.
Written by – Maria Mabood
The post Agrivoltaics: A Pathway to Sustainable Development appeared first on The Economic Transcript.
