The central government is drafting a scheme to incentivize states to adopt agrivoltaics by installing solar panels above existing farmland, Ministry secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said Monday.
The framework, potentially part of PM Kusum 2.0 or a standalone initiative, addresses installation costs that run 25% higher than conventional ground-mounted panels.
Initial pilot feedback indicates leafy vegetables, fruits, and floriculture are well-suited for agrivoltaics, which hold an estimated national installation potential of 1-2 terawatts.