@ Vikash Sharma | Sr Journalist
Delhi :National Roundtable on Agri-Renewables in India: A Double Engine Growth Strategy Jointly Organized by National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and Indo German Energy Forum (IGEF -SO) with Hon’ble Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Lalit Bohra ji gave the keynote address at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on 23rd August.
Shri Pranav R Mehta, Chairman NSEFI said, “Government of India’s target to became Energy Independent by 2047 and when we become energy independent our farmers should be the first who should contribute to this. To deal with the growing energy needs of agriculture sector, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels should be our utmost priority. The Agri – Renewables is the way forward for India to deal with the aforementioned targets set by GOI. ”
Shri Deepak Gupta, IAS (Retd.), Honorary Director General, NSEFI mentioned that India has huge potential for Solar Energy and Solar Water pumps (both on-grid and off-grid).
Shri Lalit Bohra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, delivered the Keynote Address where he mentioned that producing energy from renewable sources can be an opportunity for farmers not only to reduce household expenses, but also to increase agricultural income, by Co-Locating of Agriculture and Renewables and harvesting Mutual Benefits.
In his address he also said, ” that apart from directly improving the land utilization, Agri-Renewables can also help in augmenting the electricity requirement for farming, saving water losses/utilizing water effectively while also adding an income source to the farmers.”
NSEFI and IGEF jointly launched Report “Legal Aspects of Agri- Photovoltaics in India” by Chief Guest and Other eminent Guest. MNRE Joint Secretary Shri Lalit Bohra also launched NSEFI-IGEF Agrivoltaics website which is a one stop repository for all the information related to AgriPV in India.
During the session various organizations like ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, SunSeed APV, SunMaster, Fraunhofer Institute of India and Shakti Pumps presented about the Agri- Renewables and their experience.
Speakers pointed out that the economics of renewable energy for electricity generation with agricultural sector will be the win and win solution. This practice will solve many issues all together i.e., doubling farmers’ income, accelerating solar energy proliferation, Food-Energy-Water Nexus and Climate Change.
