Agrivoltaics: can farming and solar share land?

Solar plants need land, and India's agricultural land is precious. Agrivoltaics — using the same land for both farming and solar generation — is one answer to that tension. It is a promising idea, but it adds design complexity, so it is worth understanding what it actually involves.

What agrivoltaics is

Agrivoltaic systems place solar modules above or between crops (or grazing land) so that agricultural use continues on the same plot. Instead of the land being given over entirely to the array, it produces both electricity and food or fodder.

Common design approaches

The trade-offs

Light. Crops under or between modules receive less sunlight. Shade-tolerant crops can cope; sun-loving crops may lose yield.

Microclimate. Partial shade can reduce heat stress and water evaporation, which may help some crops in hot, dry conditions.

Structure cost. Taller structures cost more and face higher wind loads.

Farming operations. Spacing must allow tractors, irrigation and harvesting. Cables and structures must be protected from farm machinery.

Energy yield. Design choices for farming (wider spacing, height, orientation) can reduce generation per acre compared with a conventional solar plant.

Which crops may suit

Research and pilot projects often look at crops that tolerate partial shade — such as some leafy vegetables, certain pulses, herbs and fodder grasses. Suitability depends heavily on local climate, soil, water availability and the specific system design, so crop choices should be tested locally rather than assumed.

Questions for landowners

• Will farming continue, and who will farm — the landowner or someone else?
• How will farming income and lease income be structured?
• What access will the farmer have for daily work?
• How will equipment be protected during farming operations?
• What happens if crop yields fall?

These are worth discussing early alongside the usual lease terms.

Questions for developers

• Does the extra structure cost pay back through land savings, community acceptance or policy support?
• Can the electrical design and O&M work around farming activity?
• Who is responsible for crop losses or damage?

Policy and incentives

Agrivoltaics is an emerging area, and support measures may exist or change at central or state level. Anyone considering an agrivoltaic project should check current schemes with MNRE and the relevant state nodal agency.

Water and irrigation

Agrivoltaic systems change how water reaches crops. Modules intercept rainfall and concentrate run-off along their lower edges, which can cause uneven wetting and erosion. Irrigation systems must be designed around the structures, and module cleaning water may be reused for crops where its quality allows. Conversely, the shade from modules can reduce evaporation, which may help in water-scarce areas.

Steps to explore a project

1. Start with the farming goal. Decide which crops or livestock the land will support, and whether farming income or energy output is the priority.
2. Assess the site for both solar suitability and agricultural potential.
3. Run a design study comparing agrivoltaic options with a conventional plant on the same land, including energy yield and crop impact.
4. Pilot if possible. A small trial reduces risk before committing a whole site.
5. Agree roles in writing — who farms, who maintains the plant, who bears crop losses, and how income is shared.
6. Check current policy support with MNRE and the relevant state nodal agency.

Common misconceptions

• "Any crop will grow under panels." Many staple crops need full sun; suitability must be tested.
• "Agrivoltaics costs the same as a normal plant." Higher structures and wider spacing add cost.
• "Farming and solar won't interfere." Machinery, irrigation and livestock must all be planned around the electrical system.

When a conventional lease is simpler

For many landowners, a conventional solar lease on part of their land, while continuing to farm the rest, achieves a similar balance with less complexity. Agrivoltaics is most attractive where land is scarce, farming income matters greatly, or policy support makes the economics work.

Questions for landowners to ask

• Will I, or a tenant farmer, continue to farm the land, and on what terms?
• Who is responsible if crops are damaged during plant maintenance?
• Can I choose which crops to grow, or are they restricted by the design?
• How will irrigation, fencing and access be shared between farming and the plant?
• What happens to the arrangement if farming under the array proves uneconomic?

How we help

When we work on land for renewable projects, agrivoltaics is one option we can discuss with landowners who want to keep farming, alongside conventional leases. The design itself is a matter for qualified technical partners.