Assessing the Potential of Agrivoltaics for Clean Energy Transition in Semi-Arid Rajasthan, India

Agriculture in semi-arid regions is increasingly vulnerable to climate variability and land degradation, threatening rural livelihoods and food security. At the same time, the global transition toward clean energy, particularly solar power, offers synergistic opportunities to mitigate climate change while supporting sustainable rural development. Agrivoltaics, which integrates agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation, has emerged as an innovative approach to optimize land use while reducing competition between food production and renewable energy deployment. However, localized feasibility assessments for agrivoltaics remain limited, particularly in developing country contexts. To address this gap, this research employs a mixed-method approach integrating geospatial analysis, co-benefit assessment, and multi-stakeholder consultation. Leveraging Earth Observation (EO) data, a GIS-based solar suitability assessment was conducted in the high solar-irradiance region of Kishangarh in Ajmer district, Rajasthan, India. Results of the geospatial analysis indicate that around 56% of the study area (approximately 11,983 ha) is highly suitable for agrivoltaic deployment. Harnessing this potential could generate around 2397 MW of renewable energy capacity, thereby mitigating nearly 5.88 million tons of CO2 emissions annually and contributing an estimated economic value of about INR 2263 crores (approximately USD 244 million). Insights from multi-stakeholder consultations further highlight key obstacles and enabling factors for agrivoltaic implementation, including supportive regulatory frameworks and viable business models. Overall, the study demonstrates how EO-based localized assessments can inform both strategic land-use planning and evidence-based policymaking, providing a scalable framework for advancing agrivoltaics to accelerate India's clean energy transition while contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 7.