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India Eyes Solar Potential on Nearly a Third of Farmland
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CNBC TV18•21-10-2026, 15:51
India Eyes Solar Potential on Nearly a Third of Farmland
- •Around 47.75 million hectares of agricultural land, or 30% of India's farmland, is technically suitable for agrivoltaics.
- •Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh account for nearly half of the country's estimated potential.
- •Agrivoltaic projects cost 25% to 30% more than conventional ground-mounted solar installations due to elevated structures.
- •The government is working on a preliminary policy framework and evaluating financial support schemes to help deploy solar panels over agricultural fields.
Key Questions Answered
Nearly a third of India's farmland, or around 47.75 million hectares of agricultural land, is estimated to be technically suitable for agrivoltaics.
Agrivoltaic projects cost 25%-30% more than conventional ground-mounted solar installations due to elevated structures. Additionally, power generated from these elevated systems is estimated at ₹3.20 per unit compared to ₹2.60 for conventional solar, creating an economic gap that needs addressing.
While staple crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane may not be suitable in some settings, green leafy vegetables have shown promising responses with improvements in productivity.
