The Pilot That Merged Sun and Soil

Rajasthan’s First Farmer‑Owned Agri‑PV Farm: Solar Power Meets Maize Harvest

A 600 kW agrivoltaic (agri‑PV) installation on a three‑acre plot near Jaipur now feeds daytime irrigation electricity to roughly 250 farms while maize ripens beneath 11‑foot‑high solar panels. The pilot, led by 60‑year‑old farmer Kojadmal Jat in partnership with ICRIER, demonstrates how a single parcel of land can generate clean energy and a cash crop simultaneously.

The project’s scale is modest but symbolically powerful: a 600 kW ground‑mounted plant covering about 3 acres, with rows of elevated panels spaced to allow tractor passage and drip irrigation. Maize, the region’s staple winter‑crop, is harvested in September–October, exactly when the panels receive peak solar irradiance.

• ▸600 kW capacity supplies daytime power to an estimated 250 neighbouring farms.
• ▸Panels are mounted 11 feet (≈3.4 m) above ground, providing a clearance corridor for tractors.
• ▸The cultivated area is roughly twice the size of a standard cricket ground.
• ▸Maize yields under the panels have matched conventional field outputs in the pilot’s first season.
• ▸The site lies at 26.9° N, 75.8° E, within Rajasthan’s arid‑semi‑arid zone receiving > 6 kWh m⁻² day⁻¹ solar radiation.

How Agrivoltaics Works

Agrivoltaics, also called agri‑PV, integrates photovoltaic modules with crop production on the same land parcel. Elevated panels create a micro‑climate that can reduce evapotranspiration, while the shade may improve soil moisture retention. Simultaneously, the electricity generated offsets diesel‑run irrigation pumps, cutting both fuel costs and greenhouse‑gas emissions.

• ▸Photovoltaic modules convert sunlight into direct current, inverted to alternating current for grid feed‑in.
• ▸The spacing (≈5 m between rows) balances shading with optimal solar capture.
• ▸Tractors and harvesters operate beneath the panels without dismantling the array.
• ▸The system feeds into the local distribution network under the state’s net‑metering rules.
• ▸Crop‑specific agronomic practices are adjusted to the altered light spectrum and temperature.

Policy Landscape: From Renewable Purchase Obligation to Farm‑Level Incentives

India’s renewable‑energy framework already mandates that distribution companies procure a fixed share of electricity from clean sources under the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO). However, the RPO makes no distinction between utility‑scale solar farms and agrivoltaic projects, leaving a regulatory gap. The National Solar Mission targets 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022, yet its guidelines lack technical benchmarks for agri‑PV.

• ▸The RPO requires 20 % renewable share for states like Rajasthan (as of 2024).
• ▸The National Solar Mission provides financial incentives for large‑scale solar, but not for mixed‑use farms.
• ▸The PM‑KUSUM scheme subsidises solar pumps for farmers, yet does not cover panel installations on cropland.
• ▸The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑KISAN) offers direct income support of ₹6 000 per year to smallholders, which could be leveraged for agri‑PV capital.
• ▸The National Agricultural Policy emphasizes climate‑smart agriculture, aligning with the dual‑benefit model of agrivoltaics.

Economic and Environmental Calculus

From an economic standpoint, the pilot creates a “third crop” – electricity – that diversifies farm income and reduces vulnerability to monsoon variability. The 600 kW plant is projected to generate roughly 1.2 GWh annually, translating to an additional ₹1.5 crore in revenue at current feed‑in tariffs. Environmentally, the dual use curtails land‑use change, preserving native grasslands and limiting the need for separate solar farms that would otherwise displace agriculture.

• ▸Expected annual electricity output: ~1.2 GWh (≈ 0.4 kWh per m²).
• ▸Additional farmer income: estimated ₹5 000 – ₹7 000 per hectare per season from electricity sales.
• ▸Diesel fuel savings: ~ 150 000 L per year for irrigation pumps across 250 farms.
• ▸CO₂ emissions avoided: roughly 400 tonnes annually, comparable to planting 10 000 acres of trees.
• ▸Land‑use efficiency: 1 ha now produces both 3 t of maize and 0.4 MWh of solar energy.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Scaling agrivoltaics across India’s diverse agro‑climatic zones will require clear standards, financing mechanisms, and capacity‑building at the grassroots level. The absence of a formal definition hampers bank lending, while high upfront capital remains a barrier for smallholders. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) could aggregate demand, negotiate bulk procurement of panels, and provide technical training, but they need policy‑level recognition and access to credit.

• ▸No national technical standards for panel height, spacing, or eligibility criteria.
• ▸Capital cost: ~₹1.2 crore per MW for elevated structures, higher than flat‑ground installations.
• ▸Need for extension services: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) must integrate solar‑agri modules into curricula.
• ▸Insurance products for dual‑crop risk are currently unavailable under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
• ▸Cross‑state coordination required for grid integration, especially in Rajasthan’s weak rural distribution network.

The Rajasthan experiment signals a pathway where energy security and food security reinforce each other. If replicated in the fertile plains of the Ganges basin or the rain‑fed zones of central India, agrivoltaics could become a cornerstone of India’s climate‑smart agriculture agenda.