Agrivoltaics: Dual use of land for farmers using a combination of Solar Photovoltaic Panels and Agriculture to Increase the Income of Farmers

Subcategory (under Clean Energy): Solar (PV)
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 7 - Pre-commercial demonstration
Technology Outline (Process Description)

Many times, our Indian farmers mostly face the problems due to heavy rains or no rains, floods, hailstorms or due to many others reasons. If any of such problems is occurs, our farmers lose all his efforts and investments; and face the extremely bad financial loss.

 Amity Institute for Advanced Research and Studies (Materials & Device) Amity University, Noida, has installed and demonstrated the concept of AGRIVLTAICS as a solution for such problems, up to some extent.

  • The science of Agrivoltaic is to maximize the use of the agricultural land by combining solar energy harvesting and crop growing.
  • Farmer can earn extra money by selling the PV electricity along with crop, without affecting the crop’s growth.
  • Farmers can get electricity independently for solar water pump for irrigation.
  • Farmer can utilize some part of generated electricity for his house, as he is living nearby his farmland and can improve his living conditions like having RO system for clean drinking water etc.

After the complete modelling and simulation, a design has been optimised and we have installed of 10KW solar pant which is generating electricity as well as several crops have been grown on the same land to prove the dual use of the land. Studies shows an extra income about Rs. 10000/month with regular income from crops.

Salient Features/Advantages

  • The science of Agrivoltaics aims to maximize a piece of land by combining solar harvesting and crop growing together.
  • In general solar plants are installed in waste land but this model shows solar plants can also be installed even in fertile land and can provide extra income.
  • Crops can be grown in the spaces between or beneath the photovoltaic panels.
  • Generated electricity can be an additional source of income to farmers, during extreme conditions.
  • It can make farmers more self-reliant even in extreme difficult conditions.
  • Demonstration of this working model can create a confidence in farmers to adopt this technology.
  • Some schemes are required from Govt. side for implementation at the level of small farmers.

Key Outcomes

  • Agrivoltaics Solar Farm of 12KW has successfully installed and demonstrated on the organic agricultural land with a particular optimized design, to increase the income of the farmers.
  • Through detail observations and analysis, the effect of the solar panels on the particular crops (maize, potato & brinjal) has been found negligible.
  • Observed lower working temperature of installed solar panels and novel cleaning technique is installed for permanent cleaning of solar panels.
  • Suggested possible economic model.
  • Different models of solar panels have been designed for different places and different conditions in the country.

IP Protection details

  • Patent filed (Title, national/International):

    “System to prevent reduction in efficiency of solar panel in the hot weather using Agri-voltaics”. Application No. 4305/DEL/2015. National

  • Patents Granted: Nil

  • Copyrights obtained /progress on commercialisation /Pl. specify connect with industry: Nil

Contact details (for more information)

  • Nodal Person name: Prof. V. K. Jain
  • Email ID: vkjain@amity.edu
  • Organisation name (Relevant link/web page): Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida ( https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EATomb60e4g )
Supporting Photographs/Images

Organizations involved in the development (logo/name)

Amity Institute for Advanced Research and Studies (Materials & Devices)

Amity Institute of Renewable and Alternate Energy, Amity university Uttar Pradesh, Noida

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