A TERI study estimates India’s agrivoltaic potential at between 1,192 GW and 2,129 GW
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh together account for nearly 50% of India’s estimated agrivoltaic potential
The assessment identifies 2.835 million hectares of highly suitable cropland, mainly for horticulture crops
In a new study, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) pegs India’s agrivoltaic potential between 1,192 GW and 2,129 GW, considering a power density of 0.42 MW/ha to 0.75 MW/ha using 545 W bifacial modules. Nearly 50% of this potential capacity is concentrated in 6 Indian states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
While these 6 states score higher, thanks to favorable combinations of cropland availability, solar resources, and agro-climatic conditions, the states of Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Bihar, and West Bengal offer moderate potential. Flood risk, terrain constraints, and protected-area exclusions in the northeastern and Himalayan states reduce their potential.
Notably, as of August 2025, India had 36 operational agrivoltaic projects with a combined installed capacity of 37.54 MW, with another 10 pilot projects under development.
Also referred to as Agri-PV or agrisolar, this dual land use solution has significant potential in India, which is primarily an agriculture-based economy, point out the analysts. India’s agriculture sector currently employs about 46% of the national workforce, but it is facing strong competition for land. Large solar farms can sometimes take up farmland, creating a potential conflict between energy needs and food production.
However, this dual-land-use model could significantly boost farmers’ incomes and energy access, adding to the country’s future solar capacity without sacrificing agricultural productivity, stresses the study.
For the study, TERI identified 47.35 million ha of restricted cropland, of which 2.835 million ha were found highly suitable for several compatible crops.
TERI says it was able to arrive at this potential following a nationwide Geographic Information System (GIS)-based assessment for the study. It used rigorous land filters, factoring in environmental and risk factors along with crop compatibility, as well as energy suitability using the Global Solar Atlas, to explore the potential.
“A India specific crop suitability matrix developed in the study shows that horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits, plantation crops, medicinal, spices and flowers) are the most compatible with AgriPV systems. These high value crops dominate the national potential,” reads the study.
In a June 2025 study, TERI had pegged India’s total solar potential at 10.83 TW, including 4.2 TW agrivoltaics for horticulture crops, coffee, and tea plantation (see TERI Report Pegs India’s Solar Potential At 10.83 TW).
Field crops like wheat and rice were not included in the GIS assessment of the latest TERI study because using agrivoltaics with these crops is still mostly experimental and not proven at a commercial scale, according to the analysts. Moreover, apart from being the country’s main staple crops, these are very sensitive to shade, depend on mechanized farming, and are grown in heavily irrigated or flood-prone fields, which are not suitable for solar energy generation.
TERI says this study shows that agrivoltaics could help meet India’s growing electricity demand while protecting agricultural productivity and reducing land-use conflicts. It provides evidence and practical guidance to scale AgriPV nationwide, including land suitability, crop compatibility, and state-level potential to support policy and development planning.
The TERI report titled Agri-Photovoltaics Potential in India: Pathways for Sustainable Energy–Food Solutions is available for free download from its website.
TERI’s Director of Electricity & Renewables Alekhya Datta and Associate Researcher Aniket Tiwari discussed India’s solar PV manufacturing landscape at the TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2026 (STC.I 2026) (see STC.I 2026: Continuing India’s Solar PV Manufacturing Momentum).