Exploring Agri-PV: Promise and potential in India – Renewable Watch Magazine

India’s total agriphotovoltaics (agri-PV) potential is estimated at 1,192-2,129 GW, based on different power density assumptions ranging from 0.42 MW to 0.75 MW per hectare.
Using state-wise agricultural statistics and cropping intensity adjustments, around 2.835 million hectares of land across selected crop categories was identified as capable of supporting agri-PV deployment.
India’s clean energy transition is entering a phase where the challenge is no longer limited to installing renewable energy capacity but also ensuring that this expansion does not intensify pressure on land, water and food systems. As electricity demand rises rapidly due to industrial growth, electric mobility, data centres and green hydrogen production, the country is looking at large-scale solar deployment as a key pillar of its decarbonisation strategy. However, utility-scale solar parks require vast land parcels, creating increasing competition between energy infrastructure and agriculture in a country where farming remains central to livelihoods and economic stability.
Against this backdrop, agri-PV is emerging as a promising pathway that allows simultaneous agricultural production and solar power generation on the same land parcel. The article presents key takeaways from The Energy and Resources Institute’s report, “Agri-Photovoltaics Potential in India: Pathways for Sustainable Energy-Food Solutions”, published in March 2026. It highlights how dual-use solar systems can help India expand renewable energy capacity while preserving agricultural productivity and strengthening climate resilience.
Surging energy demand and land scarcity
India’s electricity consumption crossed 1,532 TWh in 2024 and is projected to grow steadily over the coming decades. Emerging sectors such as electric vehicles, green hydrogen and data centres are expected to account for 20-25 per cent of incremental electricity demand in the near term. As per long-term projections, electricity generation is expected to increase to more than 5,000 TWh by 2050.
At the same time, the country has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2070 and has set a target of installing 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Solar power is expected to contribute a major share of this transition because of declining module costs, competitive tariffs and abundant solar resources across the country.
However, the expansion of solar energy is increasingly constrained by land availability. Installed solar capacity reached around 132.85 GW by the end of 2025, but substantially higher deployment will be needed to meet long-term decarbonisation goals. Depending on different energy transition scenarios, solar deployment by 2050 could require between 14 million hectares and 93 million hectares of land. At the upper end, this would account for nearly 2.84 per cent of India’s total geographical area.
This challenge is particularly significant because agriculture already occupies close to 58.7 per cent of the country’s land area. As a result, large-scale solar deployment cannot rely entirely on converting agricultural land into conventional solar parks. Instead, integrated land-use approaches are becoming increasingly important.
Balancing food, water and energy needs
Agriculture remains central to India’s economy and resource systems. The sector supports nearly 45.76 per cent of the workforce and contributes around 15 per cent of the country’s gross value added. At the same time, agriculture consumes nearly 80 per cent of freshwater withdrawals and accounts for 17-18 per cent of national electricity consumption, primarily for irrigation.
Climate change is further intensifying pressure on agricultural systems through rising temperatures, irregular monsoon patterns, prolonged dry spells and unseasonal rainfall. These factors are affecting crop productivity and farm incomes across several regions.
In this context, agri-PV is being viewed as a solution that can address multiple challenges simultaneously. By enabling solar generation and crop cultivation on the same land parcel, agri-PV can improve land productivity, diversify farmer incomes and support energy access without reducing agricultural output.
India’s agriculture-dominated landscape makes agri-PV particularly relevant for achieving long-term renewable energy targets while reducing land-use conflicts. At the same time, deployment requires careful planning to ensure food security and agricultural productivity are not compromised.
Understanding the agri-PV model
Agri-PV systems can be designed in different configurations depending on crop type, climatic conditions and land characteristics. These include elevated solar structures that allow machinery movement beneath the panels, inter-row solar installations between crop rows, vertical solar panels and greenhouse-integrated systems.
One of the major advantages of agri-PV is the creation of beneficial microclimatic conditions. Partial shading from solar panels can reduce heat stress and water evaporation, which may improve crop performance in certain conditions. Depending on crop type and system configuration, land productivity under agri-PV systems can increase substantially compared to conventional farming or standalone solar deployment.
Globally, agri-PV has gained momentum over the past decade. Countries such as China, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea and the US have already introduced dedicated policies to promote agri-PV deployment. By 2023, global agri-PV capacity had reached around 13 GW.
In India, however, the sector remains at an early stage. There is still no nationally recognised definition or dedicated policy framework for agri-PV deployment. Existing projects have largely been developed under broader solar schemes such as PM-KUSUM, without crop-specific planning guidelines or dual-use policy provisions.
Identifying land for agri-PV deployment
A GIS-based assessment of land suitable for agri-PV deployment applied multiple environmental, agricultural and technical filters to identify areas where solar generation can be integrated with farming without compromising ecological or agricultural priorities. The assessment excluded land with steep slopes, flood-prone regions, non-productive soils and environmentally sensitive areas. Solar resource availability, slope orientation and cropland distribution were also considered in the analysis.
Around 159.75 million hectares of cropland was initially identified across India. After applying multiple screening criteria, the final “restricted cropland” area suitable for agri-PV deployment was estimated at 47.35 million hectares. This estimate remains conservative because several high-risk or environmentally sensitive areas were intentionally excluded to prioritise climate resilience and long-term sustainability. Major reductions in suitable land occurred after applying solar irradiance and flood-risk filters, reflecting the overlap between agricultural regions and flood-prone river basins.
The analysis was further refined by focusing only on crops considered suitable for agri-PV systems. Using state-wise agricultural statistics and cropping intensity adjustments, around 2.835 million hectares of land across selected crop categories was identified as capable of supporting agri-PV deployment.
Crop suitability and deployment priorities
A preliminary India-specific crop suitability matrix categorises crops according to their compatibility with agri-PV systems. The classification considers factors such as shading tolerance, crop height, irrigation requirements, microclimatic response and light intensity needs. Horticultural crops emerge as the most suitable category for agri-PV deployment. These include vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, spices, medicinal plants and flowers.
Among the most suitable crops are tea, coffee, grapes, lemon, sweet orange, cabbage, spinach, onion, potato, turmeric, coriander, ginger, medicinal herbs and several leafy vegetables. These crops are generally shade-tolerant, low-height or high-value varieties that can benefit from moderated temperature conditions under solar panels.
Moderately suitable crops include tomato, radish, carrot, chickpea, groundnut, maize, kiwi and strawberry. Meanwhile, crops such as sugarcane, paddy, coconut and palm are considered less suitable because of their high water requirements, tall canopy structures or sensitivity to shading.
The classification also differentiates between under-panel cultivation and inter-row cultivation systems. Shade-tolerant crops are more suitable for cultivation beneath panels, while high-light crops are better suited to spaces between solar arrays.
Future outlook
India’s total agri-PV potential is estimated at 1,192-2,129 GW, based on different power density assumptions ranging from 0.42 MW to 0.75 MW per hectare. Southern, western and central India offer the most favourable conditions for large-scale agri-PV deployment because of the combination of solar resources, land availability and crop diversity.
The highest potential exists in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, which together account for nearly half of the national potential. These states combine favourable solar irradiance, extensive cropland and strong horticultural activity. Moderate potential is visible in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar and West Bengal. In contrast, the north-eastern and Himalayan states show relatively lower suitability because of terrain constraints, ecological sensitivities and flood-related risks.
As of August 2025, the country has 36 operational agri-PV projects with a combined installed capacity of 37.54 MW, along with several pilot projects under development. This nascent portfolio demonstrates clear proof of concept. Going forward, dedicated policy frameworks, technical capacity building, farmer engagement, and innovative financing models will determine whether agri-PV transitions from pilot demonstrations to large-scale, commercially viable deployment.
Agri-PV offers a pathway to combine renewable energy expansion with agricultural sustainability. By integrating energy generation, climate resilience and farmer income diversification within the same land parcel, it can help address the growing pressures emerging across India’s water-energy-food nexus while supporting long-term clean energy goals going forward.
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