Will farming under solar panels take off?

Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 6:01 PM 5 min read

"As a farmer, you're always at the mercy of weather," says Harpal Dagar who has a farm on the outskirts of Delhi.

"So many times, we lost our produce due to unpredictable conditions," he says.

But five years ago he was approached by Sun Master, a Delhi-based solar power firm, with a deal that would give him a much more predictable income.

Sun Master proposed building solar panels above some of Mr Dagar's fields, with the panels high enough off the ground, that he could continue to farm underneath them.

Under the 25-year deal, Mr Dagar would receive annual payments and Sun Master would keep the proceeds from the electricity generated.

"When the solar company first approached us... many of us feared losing our land. It sounded too good to be true - maybe even a scam," says Mr Dagar.

"But today, I believe it was the best decision I made. My income has tripled, and I sleep peacefully without the stress of climate or crop failure," he says.

Sun Master pays him around $1,200 (£900) per acre, per year, plus $170 a month for work operating and maintaining the solar panels.

"Even the turmeric I grow on the same land is mine to sell. How can I complain?"

Siting solar panels above crops goes by the term agrivoltaics.

India would seem particularly suited to such innovation. The fortunes of many of its farmers often hinge on an unpredictable monsoon, so a reliable income from a solar energy firm might provide some welcome financial security.

But despite the benefits, take up has been slow, around 40 projects are operating in India at the moment, according to the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), which represents India's solar power industry.

There are several challenges.

Not all crops will grow under solar panels. Depending on the layout, the panels reduce the light getting through by between 15% and 30%. Some denser layouts will block too much sun for staple crops including wheat, rice, soybeans or pulses.

"What works well are high-value crops with moderate or low-light needs, like green leafy vegetables, spices such as turmeric and ginger, and some flowers," says Vivek Saraf, the founder and CEO of Delhi-based SunSeed, which specialises in agrivoltaics.

There's also the issue of expense.

To allow farming underneath, the solar panels need to be at least 11ft (3.5m) off the ground. That makes them between 20% and 30% more expensive to install than panels on a regular solar farm, where they are much closer to the ground.

"Small farmers cannot own these systems. They don't have the risk appetite or capital," says Mr Saraf.