COE AgriPV organized a One-Day National Workshop on AgriPV Status and Opportunities in India on
20 March 2024 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The workshop featured participation from agriculture experts,
researchers, academic institutions, research centers, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
and deliberated on the potential, advancements, and challenges in the field of AgriPV. Partner institutions showcased their ongoing research, and international experts shared insights on global
AgriPV policies and regulations.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR AgriPV In India
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR AgriPV In India
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR AgriPV In India
Innovative Green Energy Solution
About
COE AgriPV
To harness the potential of AgriPV in India and become a world leader in AgriPV, an exclusive Centre of Excellence (COE) for AgriPV, jointly led by the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), in agreement with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been established. The COE will focus on optimizing land use, enhancing energy efficiency, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable rural development. In particular, the COE will work towards the development of a comprehensive rop suitability matrix specific to AgriPV systems. The COE will establish a robust framework for AgriPV operations in India, providing valuable insights, guidelines, and training opportunities to promote the widespread adoption of AgriPV systems in a sustainable and productive manner.
Vision
To lead India's transition towards AgriPV, contributing to the nation's energy security, agricultural sustainability, and economic well-being through innovation, research, and knowledge exchange.
Mission
To catalyze transformative advancements at the intersection of agriculture and solar photovoltaics, fostering sustainable practices that optimize land use and enhance agricultural productivity.
Lead Institutes
ICAR - IARI
The ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi is the premier institution for agriculture, research, education and extension. It is the seat of green revolution and sustainable food security. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is the lead institution for Centre of Excellence (COE) for AgriPV in India.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Advance research, innovation, and knowledge exchange in the integration of solar energy and agriculture.
- Implement pilot projects to showcase the potential and viability of AgriPV systems.
- Developing a crop suitability matrix for various agro-climatic zones across India.
- Conducting impact assessments of solar PV on crops through literature reviews and field studies.
- In-depth studies on how AgriPV systems affect soil health, water usage, crop yields, and biodiversity.
- Study the overall economic impact of AgriPV on farmers and the potential return on investment.
- Providing training and capacity building to enhance the skills and knowledge of stakeholders involved in AgriPV implementation.
- Formulating best practices for AgriPV implementation to facilitate the setup of AgriPV pilot projects at various locations across India along with the supporting institute.
- Provide technical assistance and support for the establishment of AgriPV pilots in India.
- To address the issues related to land use and incentives..read more
NISE
NISE is an autonomous specialized institute under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, mandated for research and development, solar component testing and certification, capacity building, and development of solar products and applications. NISE is the lead institution for Centre of Excellence (COE) for AgriPV in India.
Roles and responsibilities:
- The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) will be responsible for conducting comprehensive shading and tilt pitch analyses using various available advanced software to optimize the design of solar PV installations.
- Creating light-shadow images throughout the year and estimating land loss in AgriPV systems for various configurations on specified area.
- Collect and analyse data from vertical PV installation systems, recommend suitable mounting structures, and optimize solar PV system designs in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to accommodate different crop characteristics.
- NISE will jointly define a performance index for AgriPV systems based on solar output and crop production, estimate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for various agro-climatic zones, and compile a database of national and international AgriPV case studies.
- Explore advancements in solar energy integration within diverse agricultural landscapes and develop inspection checklists for AgriPV systems in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)..read more
Ongoing Activities
Driving innovation in AgriPV through comprehensive research and collaboration
Pilot Review & Mapping
Comprehensive analysis of existing AgriPV implementations across India
System Guidelines
Developing standardized frameworks for AgriPV system implementation
Crop Suitability Matrix
Creating comprehensive agricultural output measurement systems
Site Visits
Domestic and international field research expeditions
Core Team
Dr. C. Viswanathan
Joint Director (Research) & Coordinator, COE AgriPV
Dr. D. K. Singh
Principal Scientist & Principal Invigilator, COE AgriPV
Dr. Jai Prakash Singh
Deputy Director General
Dr. Birinchi Bora
Deputy Director (Tech.)
OUR OBJECTIVES
Research & Development
Pioneer the development of innovative AgriPV areas, formulating a tailored rop suitability matrix, establish comprehensive guidelines, provision of technical assistance for pilot establishment, and fostering R&D collaboration within India and globally.
Policy Review And Suggestions
Advocating for favourable policies oriented towards research, prioritize farmers' needs, focus on setting standards and specifications, and providing evidence-based recommendations aligning with diverse stakeholder interests.
Training And Development
Capacity Buildings, Trainings, awareness and knowledge exchange in the integration of solar photovoltaics and agriculture.
Key Research Areas
Standards and specifications for AgriPV Installations (both Agri practices and Solar practices).
Microclimatic evaluation studies: AgriPV specific crop research involving crop-photonics interaction studies.
Research on AgriPV system design and integration including innovative techno-economical models for AgriPV installations.
Investigate the agronomic practices, agroecological principles, and farming techniques compatible with Agri PV systems.
Conduct life cycle assessments to evaluate the environmental, energy, and carbon footprints of AgriPV systems compared to conventional agricultural practices.
Develop innovative AgriPV system designs optimized for specific crop types, climates, and farming practices in different regions of India – Location specific design matrix.
Comprehensive framework for evaluating and monitoring the national-level implementation of AgriPV (APV) includes standardized metrics, periodic assessments, stakeholder feedback mechanisms, and performance benchmarks to ensure effectiveness and sustainable implementation.
Energy-Water-Food Nexus: Investigates the interlinkages between energy, water, and food systems in agricultural landscapes, examining the potential synergies, trade-offs, and co-benefits of integrating AgriPV with water management, irrigation, and food production.
AgriPV India
News & Events
COE AgriPV launched the report titled Agrivoltaics in India which estimates a potential for 3200 GW for AgriPV in India.
COE AgriPV, along with its experts, conducted a field visit to the 2MW AgriPV site installed by SunMaster near Najafgarh, Delhi. The team observed various crops being cultivated under photovoltaic
panels elevated at 4.3 meters. Additionally, the COE team also witnessed the impact of AgriPV on
farmers income.
Agriculture experts of COE AgriPV made a visit to National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and witnessed the pilots installation of vertical solar panels.
COE AgriPV organized a Knowledge sharing session on Agrivoltaics in India for the COE experts. The session was undertaken by NSEFI CEO, Subrahmanyam Pulipaka.
Contact Us
Get in Touch With Us
Centre Of Excellence For AgriPV In India
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), PUSA Campus, New Delhi-110012