In India's vast plains and sunny landscapes, where solar panels glint under the bright sky, an innovative fusion of technology and traditional farming is taking root—agrovotaics. This blend of agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) systems not only illuminates homes but also promises a lush future for farming communities. India, currently ranked 5th globally in installed solar power capacity, is ambitiously aiming to increase its capacity to 500 GW by 2030, with a substantial focus on solar energy. This goal requires about 75,000 square kilometers of land, presenting a critical balancing act between development and sustainability.The majority of solar power in India comes from ground-mounted installations, which consume 3-5 acres per megawatt. Such land-intensive methods bring about significant challenges, including lengthy acquisition processes and community disputes, particularly as installations are concentrated in six states, leading to regional power grid congestion. Agrivoltaics, or agrovoltaics, presents a brilliant solution by allowing for the simultaneous generation of solar power and agricultural practices on the same land. This concept, conceived by Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow in 1981, supports diverse agricultural activities such as crop cultivation, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitats under the shelter of solar panels.Various system designs have been developed to harmonise these dual uses. Interleaved arrays allow solar panels and crops to coexist, sharing sunlight optimally. Elevated arrays are installed above the ground, making space for agricultural activities underneath without compromising solar efficiency. Additionally, integrating solar panels into greenhouse roofs powers farms while nurturing plants, creating an environment where agriculture can thrive alongside energy production.The environmental and economic benefits of agrivoltaics are significant. It conserves land and reduces greenhouse emissions and water usage through decreased evaporation. Economically, it provides diversified income for farmers, enhancing their resilience against market or climate-induced uncertainties and increasing land productivity by 35-73%. However, the balance between shadow and sunlight is critical, and the initial setup cost and the complexity of maintaining such dual systems present ongoing challenges.Globally adopted in regions across Europe and Asia, agrivoltaics is catching on as a sustainable model to co-locate food and energy production. In India, it aligns perfectly with local needs by reducing transmission costs and enhancing the utility of agricultural land—crucial for a country poised to become a renewable energy powerhouse. By incorporating agrivoltaics, India can significantly uplift its agricultural landscape, offering a strategic advantage by enabling local energy solutions and supporting infrastructures like cold storage facilities directly on farms, cutting down post-harvest losses and boosting food security.By adopting agrivoltaics, India not only marches towards its renewable targets but also nurtures its roots, ensuring that as the country powers up, it also greens up.India's solar rankingsIndia is ranked 5th globally in installed solar power capacity and is the 3rd largest solar power generator in the world.Land requirementsIndia’s ambitious renewable energy goals require approximately 75,000 square kilometers of land by 2030—that’s nearly as large as the entire country of Panama! Agrivoltaics conceptThe concept of agrivoltaics was initially conceptualized by Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow in 1981.Design ingenuityAgrivoltaics includes innovative designs like interleaved arrays where solar panels and crops coexist, and elevated arrays that allow farming activities to take place under the panels.Boost to farmingAgrivoltaics can increase land productivity by 35-73%, combining food and energy production on the same plot.Economic benefitsThis technology offers farmers diversified income streams, helping buffer against financial ups and downs due to crop failures or market fluctuations.Environmental gains: Agrivoltaics reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves water by reducing evaporation, making farming more sustainable. Crop yield increasesExamples of increased crop yields with agrivoltaics include tomato yield increases by 11%, lettuce by 38%, and cotton by 33%.Microclimate creationSolar panels create a microclimate that protects crops, reduces soil moisture evaporation, and enhances the panels' efficiency by lowering their temperature by 2-6 degrees Celsius.Global movementInitially pioneered in Europe and Asia, agrivoltaics is gaining global traction as a sustainable solution for integrating energy and food production.Reduction in lossesBy integrating agro-PV systems with various crops, India can enhance agricultural productivity, reduce food waste, and promote sustainable energy use, contributing to both economic growth and environmental sustainability.Integration with India's agricultural sectorIn 2023, India produced 320.48 million tonnes of horticultural produce. Agrivoltaics could play a crucial role in reducing the nearly 40% of this produce that is wasted, highlighting the need for integrated energy and agricultural solutions.
