India could potentially meet its projected electricity demand for 2050 by developing agrivoltaic projects on just 10% of the agricultural land considered suitable for this purpose, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the seventh Agrivoltaics World Conference, Joshi highlighted the potential of combining agriculture with solar power generation. He cited a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to support the estimate.
According to the minister, even limited development of suitable agricultural land for agrivoltaics could generate more electricity than India’s projected power requirement for 2050.
What Is Agrivoltaics?
Agrivoltaics involves combining solar photovoltaic installations with agricultural land use. Solar panels are installed in ways intended to allow farming activities to continue alongside electricity generation, depending on the crop, panel arrangement and local conditions.
The approach could help address two competing land-use requirements: expanding renewable energy capacity and maintaining agricultural production. Its effectiveness, however, depends on factors such as land suitability, crop selection, water availability, solar infrastructure design and project economics.
The estimate cited by Joshi relates specifically to agricultural land considered suitable for agrivoltaics. It should not be interpreted as meaning that 10% of all agricultural land in India would necessarily be sufficient to meet future electricity demand.
Agrivoltaics May Feature in the Next Phase of PM-KUSUM
Joshi also said the government was working to introduce a dedicated component for agrivoltaics under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM).
The programme focuses on supporting solar energy adoption in the agricultural sector. A dedicated agrivoltaics component could help integrate renewable energy generation with farming, although the specific provisions and implementation details were not included in the report.
At the conference, the minister indicated that the government intended to launch a major agrivoltaics programme under the next phase of PM-KUSUM. The programme’s final structure, eligibility conditions and implementation timeline would be important in determining how widely such projects can be adopted.
Potential Benefits and Implementation Challenges
Agrivoltaics could offer farmers an additional source of income through electricity generation while supporting India’s renewable energy ambitions. Depending on project design, solar installations may also provide partial shade for selected crops and help diversify agricultural income.
However, wider adoption would require careful planning. Solar structures must be compatible with farming operations, and projects need to account for land conditions, installation costs, access to financing and the practical needs of farmers.
Clear policy guidelines and suitable project models will also be important. Businesses and investors assessing renewable-energy opportunities may benefit from business advisory services when evaluating commercial feasibility, investment structures and long-term operational considerations.
A Long-Term Opportunity for India’s Energy Transition
The potential highlighted by Joshi points to agrivoltaics as one possible way to combine agricultural land use with renewable electricity generation. The scale of its contribution will depend on the amount of suitable land developed, the technology deployed and the policies introduced to support adoption.
The TERI estimate cited by the minister provides a basis for further assessment, but actual outcomes will depend on project-level feasibility and future electricity demand. The proposed agrivoltaics component under PM-KUSUM’s next phase may be an important step in translating that potential into practical projects.