1. How Agrivoltaics Works

• Elevated Panels: Rather than mounting solar panels directly onto the ground, they are elevated on stilts or pillars. This preserves ample vertical clearance underneath for crops to thrive and allows agricultural machinery, such as tractors, to operate unhindered.
• The Partial Shading Benefit: The overhead panels form a protective canopy that shields vulnerable crops from extreme heatwaves, curtails soil moisture evaporation, and fosters a cooler, more resilient microclimate in arid regions.
• Dual Revenue Stream: Farmers are no longer solely dependent on seasonal harvests. They can utilize the generated power to run on-farm irrigation systems and sell surplus electricity back to the grid, potentially elevating earnings from around ₹60,000 to over ₹1 lakh per acre.

2. India’s Massive Potential & Current Landscape

• Immense Capacity: Assessments estimate India’s theoretical agrivoltaic potential at an impressive 3,000 GW to nearly 14,000 GW.
• Geographic Concentration: GIS mapping has identified nearly 47.35 million hectares of “restricted cropland” well-suited for agri-solar deployment. Six states—Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh—account for roughly 50% of this total capacity.
• Current Status: As of mid-2025, India hosts 36 operational agrivoltaic installations (totalling approximately 37.54 MW), supported by 10 active pilot projects across diverse agro-climatic zones.