India's Agrivoltaics Development and Potential
This government backgrounder document outlines India's progress and potential in agrivoltaics - the integration of solar power generation with agricultural production on the same land. As of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaics projects with an installed capacity of 37.54 megawatts, alongside 10 pilot projects under development. These projects span diverse agroclimatic regions and include elevated structures, interspace layouts, and tracking systems.
India holds significant potential for agrivoltaics with estimates ranging between 3,000 GW and nearly 14,000 GW. The technology offers substantial economic benefits for farmers, potentially increasing annual earnings from around ₹60,000 per acre to over ₹1 lakh per acre through dual land productivity. A GIS-based national screening identified 47.35 million hectares of "restricted cropland" suitable for agrivoltaics after applying environmental, agronomic, and technical filters.
State-wise Potential and Crop Compatibility
High-potential states include Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, which collectively account for nearly 50% of India's estimated agrivoltaics power generation potential. Moderate potential is observed in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar, and West Bengal. The southern, western, and central regions exhibit the most favourable combination of solar irradiance, land availability, and horticultural intensity for large-scale deployment. Fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants offer promising options for cultivation alongside solar installations.
Government Initiatives and Schemes
The Government of India has implemented several initiatives to advance agrivoltaics adoption. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM), launched in February 2019, encourages solar energy adoption in agriculture and envisages central financial assistance of approximately ₹34,422 crore. The scheme enables decentralized solar power generation and solarization of agricultural pumps.
The National Institute of Solar Energy, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Indian Agricultural Research Institute, has established a Centre of Excellence for agrivoltaics research, demonstration, and capacity building, including a 100-kilowatt agrivoltaic system pilot project.
State-specific Programs
Several states have implemented region-specific schemes: Maharashtra's Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0 drives solar power generation through 16,000 megawatts of solar projects across approximately 35,000 acres of government and private land. Gujarat's Kisan Suryoday Yojana expands solar energy utilization to meet farmers' electricity needs with a planned supply window of up to 16 hours daily. Karnataka's Surya Raitha Scheme advances solar-powered irrigation pumps and allows farmers to earn from surplus electricity.
Institutional Framework
The India Agrivoltaics Alliance (IAA), anchored by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), is a multi-stakeholder platform with over 40 members working with government ministries and industry stakeholders to advance agrivoltaics through policy advocacy, research, and implementation. The alliance develops knowledge resources, promotes pilot projects, and supports scalable business models.
Agricultural Context
Agriculture plays a vital role in India's economy, serving as a key source of livelihood for approximately 46.1% of the population. The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the Agriculture and Allied Sector is estimated to reach Rs. 52.08 lakh crore in 2025-26. According to Land Use Statistics for 2023-24, India's reported area covers 306.96 million hectares, of which approximately 55% is agricultural land, with net sown area at 138.99 million hectares and gross cropped area at 217.88 million hectares.