In a major step towards promoting agro-solar energy generation in Madhya Pradesh, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed and exchanged between the Department of New and Renewable Energy, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL), and the German Government-supported Indo-German Agrivoltaics Collaboration Project (IGCA).
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav was present during the signing of the MoU.
Agrivoltaics is an integrated approach that promotes the combined use of agriculture and solar energy. Its objective is to enable solar power generation alongside farming activities on the same agricultural land, thereby reducing the need for additional land, ensuring food security, and minimising land-related disputes. The German agency GIZ will provide technical support to the State Government in this initiative.
The partnership will help develop a dedicated agrivoltaics framework in Madhya Pradesh in alignment with various schemes, including PM-KUSUM 2.0. It is expected to enhance farmers’ incomes, improve land-use efficiency, strengthen energy security and promote climate-resilient rural development. The non-binding MoU will remain effective until May 2030.
Under the Agro Solar PV initiative, the government will provide subsidies to farmers. Farmers will retain ownership of their land and continue agricultural activities while simultaneously generating solar power by installing solar panels on the same fields. This will enable them to earn additional income from energy generation, offering a dual benefit of agricultural production and solar power generation.
Under the partnership between the State Government and the Indo-German Agrivoltaics Collaboration Project, the German agency will assist in the identification of agrivoltaics projects, technical and economic assessments, project design, financial viability studies and implementation support.
The initiative will also include capacity-building and awareness programmes for farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), energy developers, distribution companies (DISCOMs) and other stakeholders across the State.
In addition, the agency will support the development of an appropriate policy and regulatory framework to facilitate agrivoltaics projects while safeguarding agricultural productivity and food security in Madhya Pradesh.