Challenges, opportunities for agrivoltaics in India

From pv magazine India

A new study by the Canada-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Consumer Unity and Trust Society International (CUTS) has shown promising results in pilot agrivoltaics projects throughout India, highlighting the opportunities for further research and investment.

The study, which was supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), showed that agrivoltaics do not negatively impact crop yields and, in some cases, even increase them. Pilot implementers interviewed in the study indicated the technical feasibility of agrivoltaics, with certain crops like leafy vegetables, millet, and medicinal plants showing no change or increased yields under shading conditions.

However, the study also revealed that agrivoltaics is still limited to a small number of pilots in India and has not yet reached a commercial scale. To achieve commercialization, the study suggests focusing on technological innovations and testing business models suitable for the Indian context. It identifies three potential business models: joint ownership between farmers and developers, sole ownership by either party, or primary promotion by developers with farmers as partners.

Bifacial panels and sun tracking were found to be promising in agrivoltaics and can be encouraged through state-sponsored pilots. The study also identifies arid and semi-arid regions, as well as peri-urban areas, as favorable locations for agrivoltaics in India.

To support agrivoltaics, the study recommends state governments reform land-use and tax regulations, develop consistent standards and definitions, and go beyond a uniform ceiling tariff regime. Capacity building, continuous innovation, and peer learning are emphasized to overcome operational challenges.

The findings of the study are based on the experiences of various stakeholders, including power distribution companies, agricultural universities, private solar PV developers, and farmers who have implemented agrivoltaics pilots across India.