An M.Tech graduate from IIT Roorkee, Anand Jain, has experimented in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, that has left scientists stunned across the country. He has established the country’s largest agri-voltaic solar plant on a 16-acre farm.
What makes this project unique is that it generates around 25,000 units of electricity daily while also supporting the cultivation of 16 different crops underneath the solar panels.
Scientists are struggling to believe how farming is possible under a solar power plant. Leading experts from all corners of the country visit the site to see this approach to land use.
Anand Jain completed his M.Tech in 1994 and has been involved in agriculture ever since. Over the years, he has conducted multiple farming experiments. Back in 1999, he made headlines by earning ₹1 crore in a year through the cultivation of medicinal plants.
Now, he has introduced another revolutionary project in the field of solar energy. The plant not only generates electricity from sunlight, but thanks to its bifacial solar panels, it also captures 7–8% additional energy from the reflection of sunlight off the crops and soil below. Over a year, the plant is expected to produce 80 lakh units of electricity.
Located about 6 kilometers from Sagar, in the forested area of Kanera Dev, this solar energy plant took 1 year to build and cost ₹19 crore. Remarkably, even after installing the solar panels, the land remains fully usable for farming. The plant generates 4.5 megawatts of power, enough to supply electricity comfortably to 10 villages.
The man behind this himself explains that he started this with a clear vision to generate power while ensuring the land doesn’t go to waste. Central India receives excellent solar radiation, and he wants to encourage others to set up small-scale agri-voltaic systems.
According to him, this not only ensures effective land use but also conserves water and protects crops by providing shade.
This was considered the largest agri-voltaic solar plant in Madhya Pradesh until now, with a capacity of 4.5 megawatts. However, when representatives from GIZ, the Indo-German development agency, visited, they confirmed it to be India’s largest agri-voltaic solar plant.
Source:
- https://hindi.news18.com/news/agriculture/iitian-built-country-largest-agri-voltaic-scientists-surprised-see-farming-under-solar-plant-local18-9170140.html
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!offbeat/sagar-iitian-built-country-largest-agri-voltaic-solar-plant-scientists-surprised-see-farming-under-solar-plant-enn25041502372
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