7 MW Agrivoltaic Plant in Maharashtra

In a unique project, the state government’s power generation and distribution arms have commissioned a 7 MW solar power plant in Dhule district purely for the farmers’ agriculture pumps and their domestic uses.

In agrivoltaics project, the same area of land is used to produce both solar energy and agricultural products. In other words, solar panels co-exist with crops on the same surface.

Panasonic Life Solutions India has built this plant for Gro Solar Energy Pvt Ltd, the original contractor of the project appointed by Mahagenco and Mahadiscom under the government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana’.

After the project is fully developed, it will act as a model for agrivoltaic projects in India.

This project will add approximately 15,891 MWh of solar energy and assist in eliminating a total of 14,300 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of this plant.

The plant is spread over 50 acres of land and has solar modules ‘Made in India’ along with string Inverters to maintain high uptime.

The solar electricity generated is evacuated at the nearest substation to power homes across multiple villages in the vicinity and provide the much-needed daytime power to the farmers for irrigation activities.

Amit Barve, business unit head of solar business, Panasonic Life Solutions India, said, “The commissioning of 7 MW AC project is a significant achievement for us, especially during tough pandemic conditions. Excellent support, mutual trust, and coordination with Developer, Gro Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd. was the reason behind the smooth and fast execution of this project.”