The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is developing a central incentive program to encourage the adoption of agrivoltaics, which involves placing solar panels over active farmland. Officials are currently determining if this initiative will function as an independent policy or be integrated into the upcoming PM Kusum 2.0 scheme. While agrivoltaic installations are approximately 25% costlier than traditional ground-mounted solar setups, the government aims to bridge this financial gap to improve commercial viability. Preliminary research conducted with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute suggests that specific crops, such as leafy vegetables and fruits, are better suited for these systems than others. This announcement precedes the 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference in New Delhi, where experts will discuss policy frameworks and the potential for significant national solar capacity expansion, estimated at one to two terawatts.
Source : Hindustan Times
Photo : Hindustan Times
