The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has invited bids for leasing approximately 20 acres of agricultural land in Delhi for the development of two pilot Agri-Photovoltaic (Agri-PV) solar power projects, each with a capacity of 5 MW.
Under the tender, SECI is seeking two agricultural land parcels of at least 10 acres each in Issapur and Dhansa villages of Tehsil Najafgarh in Southwest Delhi. The selected land will be used for establishing Agri-PV power plants along with associated power evacuation and ancillary infrastructure.
The proposed projects will operate under a long-term lease arrangement of 27 years, with the possibility of extension through mutual consent between the parties. The initiative aims to demonstrate the dual use of agricultural land for both solar power generation and farming activities.
Agri-PV systems use elevated solar modules installed with suitable spacing, allowing agricultural cultivation to continue beneath and between the solar panel structures. This approach enables efficient land utilisation while supporting renewable energy generation without completely displacing agricultural operations.
SECI’s initiative is expected to provide an opportunity for landowners and farmers to participate in clean energy development while maintaining agricultural productivity. By combining farming with solar generation, Agri-PV projects can create an additional source of income for landowners and contribute to sustainable rural development.
The tender marks another step toward exploring innovative renewable energy models in urban and peri-urban regions. With growing land requirements for solar projects, dual-use technologies such as Agri-PV could play an important role in balancing India’s clean energy expansion with agricultural land preservation.
