The intriguing concept of utilising land for both food production and solar energy generation is being explored by 9Growers, a farming venture based in Delhi. As India strives to expand its renewable energy capabilities amidst the challenges of agricultural efficiency and resource management, integrative approaches like agrivoltaics are gaining traction. This method merges agricultural activities with solar power generation, aiming for a dual-function land usage.
After six years dedicated to controlled-environment agriculture, the company is now pivoting towards agrivoltaics. This strategic shift aims to intertwine the cultivation of crops with energy-generating infrastructures, indicating a significant development in the firm’s vision for agriculture and energy interdependence.
9Growers was founded by Pratibha Aggarwal and her son Himanshu Aggarwal, initiating their journey with urban farming experiments. Their early hydroponic systems addressed the need to produce fresh vegetables consistently, considering India’s challenging climate, spatial constraints, energy costs, and resource accessibility that impact agricultural viability.
Challenges in Combining Agriculture and Solar Energy
The experiences gleaned from previous projects are vital to shaping the agrivoltaics model now under consideration by 9Growers. The team is evaluating the feasibility of cultivating crops beneath elevated solar panels while integrating modular growing systems with solar components. This exploration focuses on maximising land use while ensuring that agricultural and energy production can function without hindering each other.
However, several practical questions arise concerning this combined approach. Factors such as varying light requirements for different crops, the optimal placement of solar panels to provide beneficial shade without limiting growth, and designing access for maintenance need careful consideration. The feasibility of these arrangements under Indian conditions is also a key determinant of viability.
The company intends to address these concerns through rigorous experimentation with techniques like raised beds, soilless cultivation, and climate-controlled growing environments. Rather than presenting agrivoltaics as a definitive answer, 9Growers treats it as an essential phase in its ongoing research.
International Engagement and Future Prospects
<h4Recently, Marisa Gerards, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, visited 9Growers’ research facility, spotlighting the innovative technology employed in their hydroponic farming practices. The Netherlands, known for its advanced agricultural methods, provides valuable insights into controlled-environment farming that could further enrich India’s agricultural landscape.