India Hosts AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, inaugurated the three-day AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 on October 21, 2026. Union Ministers Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Shri Pralhad Joshi jointly inaugurated the event, emphasizing the integration of solar power generation with agricultural activities to benefit India's small and marginal farmers, who constitute over 85% of the farming community.
Key Announcements and Policy Directions
Shri Chouhan stressed that agrivoltaics policies must be designed to meet the practical requirements of small farmers, allowing them to continue cultivation while generating solar power. He highlighted the need for practical system designs that account for panel height, spacing between support structures, and the movement of agricultural machinery. He also emphasized effective rainwater drainage and harvesting arrangements to prevent soil erosion and optimal water use, advocating for the involvement of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and training for rural youth and women in equipment operation and maintenance.
Shri Joshi announced that one of the world's most ambitious agrivoltaic programmes would be launched under the next phase of PM-KUSUM, aiming to further expand solar energy in agriculture by aligning the scheme with existing agricultural programmes. He noted that elevated and tilted structures could make agrivoltaic plants 25–30% more expensive than conventional ground-mounted solar installations, and the government aims to bridge this cost gap by supporting AgriPV capacity creation.
Statistical Data and Potential Estimates
India's non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity capacity has reached 308.03 GW, accounting for over 55% of the total installed electricity capacity of approximately 560 GW. A study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) estimated that 47.5 million hectares, or approximately 30% of India's 160 million hectares of cropland, are technically suitable for agrivoltaics. One deployment scenario covering 16 million hectares estimated annual electricity generation of 12,775 TWh, potentially comparable to or exceeding India's projected electricity demand of 5,250–10,020 TWh by 2050. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh together account for nearly 50% of India's estimated agrivoltaic potential.
Field studies indicated potential yield improvements of 10–20% for certain crops and reductions of around 30% in water consumption under suitable agrivoltaic systems. The global agrivoltaics market surpassed 18.4 GW of installed capacity in 2025, with countries like Italy, Japan, and Germany implementing supportive policies and funding programmes.
Employment and Economic Impact
According to the AgriPV Manual of the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, agrivoltaics could generate between 1.10 lakh and 3.32 lakh full-time-equivalent jobs, contributing to agricultural productivity, skills development, entrepreneurship, and rural employment. The average cost of electricity supply was around ₹7 per unit in 2025–26, while some agrivoltaic assessments indicated potential generation costs of ₹3.20–₹3.30 per unit under specific assumptions.
Existing Initiatives and Achievements
The PM-KUSUM scheme has supported decentralised solar power plants, standalone solar pumps, and the solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps, including feeder-level solarisation. Decentralised solar capacity reached 16.3 GW during the previous year, comprising 7.6 GW under PM-KUSUM and 8.7 GW under rooftop solar, largely through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which has crossed 63 lakh beneficiaries. Approximately 25 lakh pump sets have been solarised under PM-KUSUM, benefiting around 25 lakh farmers by enabling them to replace diesel-powered pumps with solar-powered alternatives, reducing diesel consumption and foreign exchange expenditure on crude oil imports.
International Cooperation and Future Framework
Shri Joshi emphasized the importance of international partnerships in developing agrivoltaic solutions suited to the needs of the Global South, acknowledging contributions from German partners, the Indo-German Cooperation on Agrivoltaics, and the International Solar Alliance. The launch of the Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework was highlighted as a step towards wider adoption, supporting governments, farmers, developers, researchers, and financiers in making informed decisions and establishing technical standards.