Agrivoltaics is emerging as a promising approach to combining agriculture with renewable energy generation on the same land. By installing solar panels above or between crop rows, farmers can continue cultivating crops while generating electricity, creating opportunities for more efficient land use, additional income and sustainable rural development.
Agriculture provides livelihoods to approximately 46.1% of India’s population. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Gross Value Added of the agriculture and allied sector is estimated to reach ₹52.08 lakh crore in 2025–26. Reliable and affordable energy is essential for irrigation and other farming activities, making solar power an important option for supporting the sector.
India’s agricultural land offers considerable scope for integrating solar energy with farming. Land Use Statistics for 2023–24 show that the country’s reported area covers 306.96 million hectares, of which approximately 55% is agricultural land. The net sown area stands at 138.99 million hectares, while the gross cropped area is 217.88 million hectares.
Solar-powered irrigation pumps can provide daytime electricity for watering crops and reduce dependence on diesel-powered alternatives. Under agrivoltaic systems, farmers can go a step further by combining crop cultivation and solar electricity generation on the same land.
How Agrivoltaics Works
Agrivoltaics, also known as agrisolar or dual-use solar, integrates agricultural production with solar installations designed to suit local farming conditions.
Elevated solar panels allow crops to grow underneath while providing space for farmers to access their fields and use agricultural equipment. The partial shade created by the panels may help protect certain crops from extreme heat and reduce soil moisture loss, depending on the crop, panel design and local conditions.
These systems can also support livestock rearing alongside electricity generation. Surplus electricity may provide an additional source of income when supplied to the power grid.
The benefits depend on local climate, crop selection, solar-panel arrangement and farming practices, making scientific research and field demonstrations important for successful implementation.
India’s Agrivoltaic Progress and Potential
As of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaic projects with an installed capacity of 37.54 megawatts, alongside 10 pilot projects under development. These projects cover different agroclimatic regions and use elevated structures, interspace layouts and tracking systems.
Estimates cited in the PIB report place India’s agrivoltaic potential between 3,000 GW and nearly 14,000 GW, highlighting the possible scale of solar energy generation alongside agricultural activity.
The report also notes that farmers’ annual earnings could, in some cases, increase from around ₹60,000 per acre to more than ₹1 lakh per acre.
A GIS-based national screening identified 47.35 million hectares of “restricted cropland” as suitable for AgriPV after environmental, agronomic and technical filters were applied.
Fruits, vegetables, spices and medicinal plants are among the crops identified as promising options for cultivation alongside solar installations.
Which States Have High Agrivoltaic Potential?
According to the report, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have high potential for agrivoltaic development. Together, these states account for nearly 50% of India’s estimated AgriPV power-generation potential.
Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar and West Bengal are identified as states with moderate potential.
The southern, western and central regions of India offer favourable combinations of solar radiation, land availability and horticultural activity for large-scale deployment.
Government Initiatives Supporting Agrivoltaics
The Government of India has undertaken several policy, research and implementation initiatives to encourage solar energy use in agriculture.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): Launched in February 2019, the scheme promotes solar energy adoption in agriculture, reduces dependence on diesel and creates opportunities for farmers to diversify their earnings. It envisages central financial assistance of approximately ₹34,422 crore and supports decentralised solar power generation and the solarisation of agricultural pumps.
Centre of Excellence on Agrivoltaics: The National Institute of Solar Energy, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Indian Agricultural Research Institute, has established a Centre of Excellence for research, demonstration and capacity building. Its pilot projects include a 100-kilowatt agrivoltaic system at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
India Agrivoltaics Alliance: Launched in 2023 and anchored by the National Solar Energy Federation of India, the alliance brings together government, industry and other stakeholders. With more than 40 members, it supports policy advocacy, research, pilot projects and scalable business models for combining agriculture and solar power.
State-Level Solar Agriculture Schemes
Several states are also promoting solar energy for agricultural use through dedicated programmes.
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Maharashtra – Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0: Supports solar power generation through 16,000 MW of solar projects across approximately 35,000 acres of government and private land to supply electricity to agricultural consumers.
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Gujarat – Kisan Suryoday Yojana: Seeks to expand daytime electricity access for agricultural activities, with a planned supply window of up to 16 hours daily, from 5 AM to 9 PM, through phased commissioning of solar and other non-conventional energy plants.
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Karnataka – Surya Raitha Scheme: Promotes solar-powered irrigation pumps and allows farmers to earn from surplus electricity, while reducing reliance on diesel-powered pumps.
Linking Farmers’ Livelihoods with Clean Energy
Agrivoltaics offers an approach to bringing agricultural production and renewable energy generation together. It can improve land-use efficiency, potentially reduce water loss under suitable conditions and create additional income opportunities for farmers.
As India explores wider adoption, locally appropriate system designs, scientific research and farmer participation will be important to balancing crop productivity with electricity generation.
Through initiatives such as PM-KUSUM, research programmes and state-level schemes, the integration of solar power and agriculture could contribute to more resilient farming and a sustainable rural economy.
