Solar Over Soil: India Eyes 5 GW Agrivoltaic Boost
MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi reveals plans to add 5 GW of agrivoltaic capacity to boost solar energy without compromising farming.
India is poised for a significant leap in its renewable energy journey, with the potential to add over 5 gigawatts (GW) of agrivoltaic capacity within the next three to four years. This ambitious target, revealed by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, aims to harmonize the country's need for clean energy with its commitment to food security.
The Dual-Purpose Revolution
Agrivoltaics is a cutting-edge approach where solar panels are installed high above agricultural land. This configuration allows farmers to continue cultivating their crops underneath the panels while simultaneously generating electricity. By utilizing the same piece of land for two different purposes, India hopes to solve the age-old conflict between land for energy and land for food.
The Key to Success: State Government Action
While the central vision is clear, Secretary Sarangi emphasized that the actual pace of deployment rests heavily on the shoulders of state governments. The addition of 5 GW of capacity is contingent upon how quickly states can:
- Introduce and notify favorable electricity purchase tariffs (feed-in tariffs).
- Create an inviting environment for investments from developers and cooperatives.
- Facilitate easier access for farmers to adopt this technology.
The Secretary noted that the "enthusiasm" of the states will be the primary driver in determining whether these targets are met on schedule.
Breaking the Geographical Monopoly
Currently, India's solar energy landscape is heavily skewed. According to Sarangi, a staggering 85% of the country's solar deployment is concentrated in just five states, with Rajasthan and Gujarat holding the lion's share.
This concentration creates two major hurdles:
- Transmission Pressure: Huge amounts of electricity must be transported from the west to the rest of the country, putting immense strain on the national grid.
- High Costs: Long-distance transmission leads to higher interstate transmission charges.
By promoting agrivoltaics, India can decentralize solar production. States that have vast agricultural lands but lack non-arable land for traditional solar farms can now generate power locally, reducing the reliance on long-distance transmission networks.
Unlocking Terawatt Potential
The scale of opportunity is massive. India's theoretical agrivoltaic potential is estimated to be between 1 to 2 terawatts. However, the MNRE Secretary cautioned that it is too early to project deployment at such a gargantuan scale.
To move forward, the government recognizes the need for deeper research to determine:
- Which specific crops thrive best under solar panels.
- Which commercial models are most viable across India's diverse agro-climatic regions.
From Pilots to Powerhouses
The momentum is building toward the Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026. A preparatory press conference held in New Delhi highlighted that the upcoming event, scheduled for October 21–23, will be pivotal. The primary goal of the conference is to strategize the transition of agrivoltaics from small-scale pilot projects to large-scale, commercially viable deployments across the nation.