Agrivoltaics on 10% of suitable land can meet 2050 power demand: Pralhad Joshi

Operationalising just 10% of the agricultural land deemed suitable for agrivoltaics in India could generate enough electricity to meet the country’s projected power demand for 2050, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.

“If even 10% [of the land deemed suitable for agrivoltaics] is converted [towards operationalisation], more than whatever power requirement is being estimated for 2050 can be generated by agrivoltaics,” he said, citing a study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Published in July, the study identified about 47.5 million hectares, or nearly 30% of India’s more than 160 million hectares of arable agricultural land, as suitable for agrivoltaics.

The approach combines agricultural activity with solar photovoltaic power generation on the same land, potentially allowing farmers to retain agricultural production while earning additional income from renewable energy.

The government is working on a dedicated policy framework for the sector, with agrivoltaics potentially being incorporated into the next phase of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM).

“We will be launching one of the world’s agrivoltaic programmes under the next phase of PM Kusum,” Mr. Joshi said at the inauguration of the seventh Agrivoltaics World Conference.

Speaking at the conference, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the potential benefits of agrivoltaics but stressed the need to address land-use concerns and assess the feasibility of projects across different regions.

Cost competitiveness key

Mr. Joshi said agrivoltaic installations, which typically require elevated solar panel structures to facilitate farming underneath, could cost 25-30% more than conventional ground-mounted solar projects.

He stressed the need to bridge the cost differential to make the model commercially viable.

“The average cost of electricity supply was around ₹7 per unit in [fiscal year] 2025-26. While some of the major agrivoltaics assessment indicate potential generation of ₹3.20 to 3.30 [per unit], whereas ground mounted costs now ₹2.5 to 2.6 [per unit]. This difference has to be matched,” he said.

Safeguards for farmers

Mr. Chouhan said the proposed policy must provide mechanisms to help farmers repair solar modules, address disputes and clarify the terms under which agricultural land can be sold or leased, even as he hailed agrivoltaics’ potential for additional revenue generation.

“There must be participation [from farmers] but coinciding with mechanisms to facilitate resolutions as well,” he said.

The policy must also identify suitable crops for different geographical conditions, establish provisions for recycling solar equipment and ensure land can be restored to agricultural use if farmers decide to exit agrivoltaics, he added.