India Hosts 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi

India is hosting the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The three-day international summit marks the first time a nation from the Global South hosts this event.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosts the conference alongside Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV). Conexio-PSE serves as the primary organizer. Under the theme “Powering the Global South,” the summit explores how dual-land usage can revolutionize clean energy generation and agricultural productivity.

What Is Agrivoltaics?

Agrivoltaics merges agricultural crop production with solar photovoltaic power generation on the same land area. Farmers install elevated solar panels above field crops, generating clean electricity while cultivating agricultural produce underneath.

This dual approach optimizes land-use efficiency. It generates a steady supplementary income for rural households and shields sensitive crops from excessive solar heat and soil moisture loss.

Strategic Objectives of AWC 2026

The global summit addresses critical energy, agricultural, and economic challenges through actionable framework discussions:

• Food and Energy Security: Combines clean power generation with sustainable farming to meet rising national demand for food and clean energy.
• Empowering the Urjadata: Supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform traditional food producers (Annadatas) into clean energy producers (Urjadatas).
• Climate Resilience: Utilizes solar panels to form microclimates that mitigate heat stress, regulate soil evaporation, and support smart irrigation systems.
• Commercial Innovation: Connects clean-tech startups, venture capitalists, and agricultural scientists to accelerate commercial agrivoltaic adoption.

High-Profile Opening Ceremony Highlights

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi addressed the global assembly.

Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik attended the ceremony. German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider delivered a video address, while German Ambassador Jasper Wieck offered closing observations on international bilateral cooperation.

Launch of Three Core Policy and Technical Resources

The conference unveiled three strategic tools to guide worldwide adoption, policy formulation, and technical research:

Summit Structure and Startup Innovation

Over 1,200 delegates, including 150 international experts, attend the conference. The program features an India Focus Track alongside two parallel scientific research tracks.

The summit highlights the AgriVoltaics Pitch Hub, where clean-tech startups present innovations to venture capitalists, government funding bodies, and private investors. These discussions emphasize integrating smart digital tools, including precision farming sensors, automated irrigation networks, and satellite crop monitoring.

Transforming Rural Economies Across the Global South

By combining crop cultivation with renewable energy, agrivoltaics offers a sustainable blueprint for developing nations. The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference establishes a framework for South-South knowledge sharing, helping rural farming communities build climate resilience and financial stability.