CivilsIASPrep.comAgrivoltaics on 10% of suitable land can meet 2050 power demand: Pralhad Joshi
What does this development mean for UPSC preparation?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that agrivoltaics on 10% of suitable land can meet India's 2050 power demand.
UPSC CSE Context
Why in News
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that agrivoltaics on 10% of suitable land can meet India's 2050 power demand.
Syllabus Connection
GS Paper 3: Environment, Energy, Agriculture; GS Paper 2: Governance, Government Policies.
Exam Relevance
Agrivoltaics integrates renewable energy with agriculture, relevant for questions on sustainable development, energy security, and farmer welfare.
Core Issue
Agrivoltaics can meet 2050 power demand using 10% suitable land.
Key Development
Government plans dedicated agrivoltaics component in PM-KUSUM phase 2.
Stakeholders
- Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Union Ministry of Agriculture
- Farmers
- Solar project developers
- TERI
Static Knowledge
High-Value Background
- Agrivoltaics allows simultaneous use of land for agriculture and solar power generation.
Exam Linkage
- Useful for questions on renewable energy integration, land use efficiency, and farmer income augmentation.
Concepts in Context
- Agrivoltaics involves elevated solar panels to allow farming underneath, increasing land productivity.
- Cost differential between agrivoltaics and ground-mounted solar is a key adoption barrier.
Institutions and Mechanisms
- PM-KUSUM is a central scheme for solarisation of agriculture.
Dynamic Analysis
Economy
- Higher installation cost (25-30% more) may hinder commercial viability without subsidies.
- Cost competitiveness with ground-mounted solar is essential for scaling.
- Potential to reduce agricultural power subsidies by decentralised generation.
Agriculture
- Need to identify suitable crops for different regions under shade conditions.
- Dual use of land can improve water efficiency and reduce evaporation.
- Risk of land-use change affecting food security if not regulated.
Governance
- Policy must address dispute resolution and repair mechanisms for solar modules.
- Clarity on land sale/lease terms is critical for farmer protection.
- Integration with PM-KUSUM requires coordination between central and state agencies.
- Need for recycling provisions for solar equipment to manage e-waste.
Environment
- Agrivoltaics can reduce carbon footprint of agriculture and energy sectors.
- Potential biodiversity impacts from large-scale solar installations need assessment.
- Land restoration ensures ecological resilience if projects are abandoned.
Prelims Takeaways
- PM-KUSUM stands for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan.
Mains Value Addition
Arguments
- Agrivoltaics addresses the land conflict between food and energy security.
- Farmer participation requires robust safeguards and financial incentives.
- Cost parity with conventional solar is essential for long-term viability.
- Policy must balance energy targets with agricultural productivity.
Examples
- Agrivoltaics World Conference highlighted global interest in dual land use.
Data Points
- Agrivoltaics cost ₹3.20-3.30 per unit vs ground-mounted ₹2.5-2.6 per unit.
- Average electricity supply cost was ₹7 per unit in FY 2025-26.
Counterpoints
- Land lease complexities could lead to farmer exploitation.
- Environmental concerns over solar panel disposal and land degradation.
Way Forward
- Develop a dedicated agrivoltaics policy with clear land lease and sale guidelines.
- Provide viability gap funding to bridge cost differential with ground-mounted solar.
- Establish farmer grievance redressal and module repair mechanisms.
- Promote research on suitable crops and region-specific agrivoltaic designs.
- Mandate recycling and land restoration provisions in project approvals.