AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 Day 2 Highlights
The second day of the AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 featured significant state-level policy announcements, technological innovations, and financial mechanism discussions. A ministerial track co-organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) brought together State Ministers of Energy and Agriculture from Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar to present state-level approaches for accelerating agrivoltaic deployment.
State Policy Leadership and Targets
Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo announced that the state is finalizing its dedicated Agrivoltaics Policy 2026 with a target of 1 GW by 2030. The proposed policy will require at least 90% of project sites to remain cultivable, safeguard farmer consent and crop insurance, and allow farmers to own projects or lease their land while continuing cultivation. To attract investment, Odisha plans to provide 25-year power purchase agreements through GRIDCO, grid connectivity, and investment incentives.
Uttar Pradesh's Energy Minister Shri Arvind Kumar Sharma highlighted the state's vast agricultural base, diverse cropping patterns, and expanding solar infrastructure as key advantages for agrivoltaics. He emphasized that generating solar power alongside cultivation would optimize land use and create additional income streams for farmers, noting that small and marginal farmers account for nearly 80% of agricultural holdings in the state. Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi highlighted the state's plan to solarize all 16 lakh agricultural tubewells whose electricity bills have been waived, supported by dedicated grid infrastructure.
Madhya Pradesh's Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Rakesh Shukla highlighted the state's efforts to advance agrivoltaics, solar deployment, and battery storage as part of its farmer-welfare agenda, with 2026 being observed as the Year of Farmer Welfare. He noted that cultivation beneath solar panels had begun at several locations and that the state was progressing with battery-storage projects, for which the tendering process had been completed.
Bihar's Energy Minister Shri Shailesh Kumar Mandal highlighted the state's efforts to strengthen agricultural electricity infrastructure through feeder separation and solarization, noting that Bihar had advanced work on approximately 2,700 agricultural feeders with state government approval for financial support. Agriculture Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha highlighted agrivoltaics as an opportunity to enhance farmers' incomes, promote crop diversification, and generate rural employment.
Technological Innovations and Private Sector Engagement
The Agrivoltaics Pitch-Hub was curated by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) where early-stage innovators and start-ups pitched bankable, dual-use agrivoltaic solutions before an expert jury comprising national institutes (NISE, NIBE), venture capitalists, and industry leaders. Fraunhofer ISE and Sunseed APV demonstrated next-generation solutions including advanced solar tracking systems, dynamic panel tilting, semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) modules, and micro-climate soil sensors engineered specifically for tropical and arid conditions.
A dialogue hosted by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce brought together Indian and international developers, including NTPC Green Energy, First Solar, and leading European firms to discuss supply chain localization, standards development, and market certainty.
Financial Mechanisms and Youth Engagement
An executive roundtable convened representatives from multilateral development banks, financial institutions, and commercial lenders, including the World Bank, KfW, European Investment Bank, and IREDA. Participants examined financial mechanisms needed to accelerate agrivoltaic deployment, including risk-mitigation instruments, concessional lending facilities, and blended finance structures capable of mobilizing private investment at scale.
Acclaimed actress and UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi joined the Conference for an exclusive fireside chat, advocating for youth-led community strategies and spotlighting the intersection of food security, renewable energy, and youth mobilization. She emphasized how agrivoltaics contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while directly empowering and securing livelihoods for rural youth.
The day concluded with an interactive Digital Poster Gallery showcasing operational agrivoltaic projects and lessons from global case studies, providing participants with practical insights into implementation and scale-up strategies.