India’s renewable energy journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From setting ambitious targets to achieving significant milestones in traditional ground-mounted and rooftop solar installations, we’ve demonstrated a resolute commitment to a cleaner energy future. However, as a nation with a vast population and growing land constraints, relying solely on conventional solar deployments isn’t enough. The imperative for diversified, innovative solar applications has never been clearer.

The sun, our most abundant energy source, is now moving “beyond the rooftop,” finding new homes and unlocking unprecedented potential across various sectors. At Saurally Solar, our focus on R&D and manufacturing for developing markets like India continually reinforces the need for these cutting-edge solutions. Let’s explore some of the most exciting frontiers where solar technology is redefining energy generation and sustainability in India.

1. Agrivoltaics: Cultivating Energy and Crops Simultaneously

The conflict between land for agriculture and land for solar farms has long been a challenge. Agrivoltaics, or agrophotovoltaics (APV), offers an elegant solution: the dual use of land for both solar power generation and crop cultivation. This synergy is particularly crucial for India, where arable land is a precious resource.

Recent advancements highlight India’s proactive stance. By July 2023, India had at least 22 operational APV projects, with more being added. Notable examples include the 1.4 MW project near Parbhani and the 250 kW site at Sahyadri Farms, which ingeniously uses bifacial panels to maximize energy capture. The launch of the “Agrisolar Best Practice Guidelines – India edition” in February 2024 by key industry bodies like IGEF-SO and NSEFI, alongside the MoU for a 16.5 kW rooftop AgriPV plant at NISE in December 2024, signifies a robust push towards standardized and scalable deployment.

The benefits are compelling: shade from panels can lead to increased crop yields (by reducing heat stress and water evaporation), diversify farmers’ income, and even create favorable microclimates. While challenges like appropriate business models and legal frameworks persist, the momentum in Indian agrivoltaics suggests a future where fields produce both food and power.

2. Floating Solar: Harnessing Hydropower and Solar Together

Imagine vast reservoirs shimmering not just with water, but with the glint of solar panels. Floating Photovoltaics (FPV) involves installing solar arrays on water bodies, offering a powerful solution to India’s land scarcity. With a theoretical potential exceeding 280 GW from its water bodies, India is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in FPV.

India already boasts some of the world’s largest floating solar projects. The 100 MW NTPC Ramagundam plant in Telangana, commissioned in July 2022, and the 92 MW NTPC Kayamkulam project in Kerala, operational since July 2022, are testament to this. Even more impressively, the 600 MW Omkareshwar project in Madhya Pradesh is under phased development, with 278 MW already commissioned, featuring the world’s largest inverter floating platform.

Beyond saving land, floating solar offers several advantages: the cooling effect of the water enhances panel efficiency by 5-16%, and the panels reduce water evaporation by up to 70%, a critical benefit in water-stressed regions. While higher initial costs and technical complexities like anchoring and biofouling require careful planning, the long-term benefits for a water-rich nation like India are undeniable.

3. Solar Mobility & Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Seamless Integration

Solar energy is increasingly blending into our everyday infrastructure, making it an invisible yet powerful part of our lives.

Solar Mobility: While fully solar-powered vehicles are still evolving, solar charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly expanding in India. The PM E-DRIVE scheme, introduced in October 2024, provides subsidies for solar-powered charging stations. Public sector oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) are investing heavily, aiming for 500 solar-powered charging stations along highways by July 2024. Private players like Tata Power have integrated 1,200 of their 5,000 charging stations with solar energy by March 2025. A significant step was the launch of India’s first solar-powered EV charging microgrid in Gurugram in August 2024, by BluSmart in collaboration with HAREDA, powering 150 fast chargers with a 1.2 MW solar capacity. Even railway stations like Sahibabad, Guldhar, and Duhai are integrating solar to power EV charging points, with the NCRTC aiming to meet 70% of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor’s energy needs through solar.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): BIPV goes beyond simply putting panels on a roof; it involves integrating solar cells directly into building materials like facades, windows, and shingles. This offers aesthetic flexibility and dual functionality – generating electricity while serving as structural or aesthetic elements. India is seeing notable BIPV applications, from the net-zero energy Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi to the Suzlon One Earth headquarters in Pune, and even Sahibabad Railway Station’s 729 kW BIPV solar platform. These projects demonstrate how BIPV can transform urban landscapes into active power generators, especially crucial in our densely populated cities.

4. Solar in Disaster Relief: Powering Resilience

India is prone to a range of natural disasters, from floods to cyclones. In such crises, grid failures are common, making independent and reliable power sources critical. Solar energy offers a robust solution for disaster preparedness and response.

Portable solar generators, solar-powered communication devices, and mobile charging stations can be rapidly deployed to provide emergency power for hospitals, shelters, and relief operations. Examples from the Bihar floods, where off-grid solar systems kept lights on and allowed mobile charging when the grid was down, underscore solar’s resilience. DESI Power’s initiative to install solar-powered water treatment plants in flood-affected areas is another powerful demonstration of solar’s life-saving potential. By enabling critical services to continue operating independently, solar energy enhances community resilience and accelerates post-disaster recovery, reducing reliance on fossil fuels in crisis situations.

Conclusion: A Brighter, Diversified Solar Future for India

The journey of solar energy in India is rapidly evolving beyond conventional deployments. Agrivoltaics, floating solar, solar mobility, BIPV, and solar for disaster relief are not just niche applications; they represent the leading edge of a diversified and resilient energy future. These innovations address critical challenges like land scarcity, water conservation, and energy security, while simultaneously contributing to India’s ambitious sustainability goals.

As a nation, our commitment to R&D and the seamless integration of these technologies into our infrastructure will be paramount. Companies like Saurally Solar are dedicated to contributing to this evolution by focusing on practical, scalable solutions tailored for India’s unique needs. The sun continues to be our greatest ally, and by embracing these “beyond the rooftop” innovations, India is truly paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

References:

  • Agrivoltaics.in News. (2024, February 22 & December 6). MoU Signing Ceremony for Rooftop AgriPV Plant at NISE & Launch of Agrisolar Best Practice Guidelines – India Edition.
  • Mongabay-India. (2024, August 5). Agrivoltaics in India get a fresh boost from tech and design innovations.
  • Heaven Designs. (2025, April 23). Top 10 Floating Solar Power Plants of India.
  • Tata Power Renewable Energy. (2024, November 13). Tata Power Renewable Energy Commissions One of India’s Largest Floating Solar Projects of 126 MW in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh.
  • NextMSC. (2025, July 2). Renewable Energy Integration in India’s EV Charging Market: A Sustainable Revolution.
  • The Economic Times. (2025, July 6). Gadkari’s mega mobility plan for India: Hyperloop, electric buses, ropeways on fast track.
  • Times of India. (2025, July 2). EV charging stations installed at Guldhar, Duhai Namo Bharat stations.
  • Ornate Solar. (2024, May 10). From Facades to Energy: India’s Adoption of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
  • Central Electronics Limited. (n.d.). BIPV Railway Platform.
  • Nexus Media News. (2017, September 12). In Rural India, Solar Powers Through a Flood.
  • Suntegrity Solar. (2024, September 18). The Role of Solar Power in Disaster Relief.