Sun and Soil: India Plans Massive Push for Agri-Photovoltaics
MNRE Secretary Santosh Sarangi reveals plans for an agrivoltaics policy to boost solar energy without compromising food production.
India is gearing up to revolutionize its rural landscape by integrating energy production with agriculture. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is currently developing a comprehensive policy framework to scale up agrivoltaics in India, a system that allows solar power generation to happen simultaneously with crop cultivation on the same piece of land.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 7th Global Agriphotovoltaic Conference, MNRE Secretary Santosh Sarangi emphasized that the government is focusing on creating the necessary regulatory systems and standards to make this dual-use approach a reality across the country.
Bridging the Gap Between Energy and Food
One of the primary challenges in expanding solar energy is the competition for land. Agrivoltaics offers a strategic solution by ensuring that the drive for clean energy does not come at the cost of food security. According to Secretary Sarangi, the potential for this technology in India is immense because it enables electricity generation without compromising agricultural output.
The goal is to move beyond small-scale experiments. The government intends to take successful pilot projects and scale them up, providing the institutional support and regulatory clarity needed for widespread adoption by farmers.
Global Insights for Local Solutions
India marks a milestone by hosting the Global Agriphotovoltaic Conference for the first time in a developing nation. Previous editions were held in advanced economies like the United States, Germany, France, and South Korea. By bringing together global researchers, policymakers, and farmers, India aims to adapt international best practices to fit its unique climatic and agricultural conditions.
Key areas of discussion at the conference included:
- Business Models: Creating viable financial structures for small-scale farmers, farmer cooperatives, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
- Financing: Identifying funding arrangements that make the transition to agrivoltaics affordable for the rural population.
- Standardization: Setting technical standards to ensure efficiency in both power generation and crop yield.
The Road to 500 GW by 2030
The push for agrivoltaics comes at a time when India is aggressively expanding its green energy footprint. The country has set an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of installed non-fossil-fuel capacity by 2030.
Secretary Sarangi provided a glimpse into the current progress:
- Current Status: India has approximately 308 GW of non-fossil-fuel capacity already installed.
- Recent Growth: About 56 GW of non-fossil-fuel capacity was added last year, with a similar addition expected this year.
- The Gap: Based on current trajectories, the Secretary estimated that less than 50 GW of additional annual installation would be required over the remaining period to hit the 2030 goal.
With the pace of renewable energy development accelerating over the last two years, the MNRE expresses strong confidence in meeting its long-term climate and energy targets, with agrivoltaics poised to play a critical role in this transition.