Agrivoltaics in India and its Potential Growth

A collaboration between
GRAMIN VIKAS TRUSTFARMDO GROUP

Table of Contents

1. Corporate Profiles
2. Agrivoltaics anIntroduction
3. Project in HimachalPradesh
4. Future expansion

Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT) started its journey in1992 as a national level non-profit development
organization with the support from Krishak Bharati
Cooperative Ltd (KRIBHCO), Ministry of Chemical &Fertilizers, GOI and DFID (UK) to create a world
where every citizen can live a secure, healthy andfulfilling life and sustain in harmony with nature.
Along with various social, economic andenvironmental development initiatives, GVT isinvolved in enabling capacities of rural populace
through running various institutes like School of RuralManagement, National Livelihood Resource Instituteand Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Corporate Profile

Activities in Mongolia
highlighted at COP25

Corporate Profile
Domestic Distribution Network
80 Ha of Solar Farms managed in Gunma Pref
Produce sent to Tokyo area retail stores
Distribution center established at Narita airport
for export and importOperational areas ofFarmdo
FarmclubFarms

Narita AirportTokyoInternational Experience
In Mongolia

2 projects
Fully operational since 201728 Ha of agriculture land
Solar farms (greenhouses and open air)
12.7 MW DC
12,500tCO2 emission reductions per year

In Chile

5 projects
Expected full operation from Q2 2024
30 Ha of agriculture landSingle Axis tracking technology
15 MW DC
11,700tCO2 emission reductions per year

In Kenya

1 projects
Rose farm self-consumption
230kw solar and 200kw battery
Plan development 10 MW solar in local

Agrivoltaics an Introduction
Problems or Questions Leading to Agrivoltaics

Components of Agrivoltaics

Energy Centric

Agriculture Centric

Energy and Agriculture CentricPre-designed solar plant

Farms with center-pivot irrigation

Designed with agriculture activities inmind

Maximize land use by growing Maximize land use by building solar Balances solar and agriculture yield tocrops in rows between panels
in corners
maximize land use

Agrovoltaics managed agrivoltaic implementation in Himachal, India

Typical large scale farming in multiple countries

Farmdo Group agrivoltaic plant in Gunma, Japan

Agrivoltaics an Introduction
Benefits of Agrivoltaics
Simultaneous use of land forboth farming and photovoltaic
power production.

Generate a source ofemployment for the local
population and fixedrevenues for farmers.

Crops in between array can
prevent soil erosion,
reducing dust load on PVmodule.

Shade-tolerant crops can begrown in the dry season,increasing the soil‘sproductivity and fertility.

Agricultural activities canoccur throughout the year,
increasing the number ofcycles to two or more,
opening new markets andrevenues for farmers.

Micro-climates under PVmodule, reducing thetemperature, resulting in theoptimum g eneration of PVbased electricity

Protection against hail,
frost and draught isprovided by agrivoltaicsystem.

Agrivoltaics can supply
electricity for water treatment
and catchment.

Suitable Crops for Cultivation in India
Onion, Gralic, Chilli, Brocouli, Spinach, Cauliflower, Salad, Field Beans,Legumes, Leafy vegetables, Raddish, Carrot, Green Cabbage.

Grapes, watermelon, muskmelon, strawberries.

Most type of Ornamental and medicinal plants
are suitable. Eg: Alovera, Basil, etc.

Agricultural Package of Practice plays an improtant role formost efficient growth of crops and incresing the output ofelectricity generated by PV modules.

Project Introduction
Goals

Provide energy security to farmers
Decentralize renewable energy
Contribute to achieving 40% non-fossil-fuel sourced power capacity by 2030

Components

a. Install 10,000 MW grid connected solar PV on agriculture land sized up to 2
MW.
b. Install 1.75 million solar powered irrigation pumps to replace diesel run
pumps.
c. Solarize 1 million grid connected solar pumps allowing sales of excessenergy to the grid.

Year2022-23

Pilot

1 MW

Main

2023-29

10 MW

The distribution company is obligated to purchase all electricity from Solar PV
PPA for 25 years at price per kWh set by stateProject In Himachal Pradesh
250 kW Solar Plant under KUSUM Schemewith agriculture implementation

Project Outline
Location
Mandi, Himachal
Status of Land
Already existing solar
Plant Land Area
800
Solar Panels
250w Polycrystalline
Cultivated Crops Cabbages, Onions,
Garlic, Eggplant,
Chilies, strawberries㎡

Project In Himachal Pradesh

Agriculture implementation must consider
heavy shading from panels
Space under panels not available
Able to reduce O&M costs of solar plant
through elimination of weeding
Increase of solar generation throughcreation of micro-climate reducing
temperature of panels

Future Expasion
Farmdo Group’s Solar Farm model

Project Vision
Introduction of Japanese style Agrivoltaics to India with anenergy and agriculture centric approach.

Project Goals
Engage with farmers
Demonstrate Farmdo Group and Agrivoltaics knowhow
Increase resilience of farming in India to climate change

Project Outline

Project Capacity Land Area

Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh StateElectricity Board Limited
2 MW
2 HA
2,800 MWh per year 2,500

Estimated Generation (avg.)

tCO2 per year*

CO2 Emission Reduction (avg.)

3.98 INR/kWh (0.05 USD)

LocationDistribution Company

Bi-facial PV panels
Increased spacing betweencells
PV panels height 3.5-4.5
metersUsed in open air, andenclosedsystems(greenhouse)
Compatible with hydroponics,
non-soil growing mediums
and traditional soil culture
agriculture

Real World Examples
Under construction
polyethylene
greenhouseincorporating Solar PVroof.
Open air system using
white weed barrier
sheets to increasereflectivity and reduce
OPEX.

PPA tariff* Emission reduction based on grid efficiency factor published by Indian Government 2021

Solar Farms in Gunma, JapanFuture Expansion
Other GHG (N2O) emission reduction

Granular Fertilizer
Inefficient, often overused
Leeches into rivers andground water
Undergoes volatilization

Drip Irrigation withwater soluble fertilizer

becoming N2O in theatmosphere

Direct application offertilizer to roots
Reduces 65% waste
of fertilizer
Conservation of water

Ag-tech to be implemented

Multispectral cameras and sensors on tractors.
Identifying crops nutrient requirement.
GIS techniques to identify plants transpiration
rates affecting change in temperature ofpanels.
Image analysis and sensors used to track thelive growth of plants helping to understand theecosystem under PV panels resulting infurther optimisation of agrivoltaics.
Study using light sensors, humidity sensors,
temperature sensors, AI, and automation tounderstand plant growth and reaction tochanging lighting and environmental conditions
can be further carried out for optimization
purposes of agrivoltaics.

Thank you