AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 Opens at Bharat Mandapam

The seventh edition of the AgriVoltaics World Conference (AWC) 2026 opened on 21 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It is the first time this global summit on the joint use of farmland for crops and for solar power is being held in the Global South, and the first time India is the host.

Who is hosting it

The three-day conference is hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Backing it is Germany, through the ministry known there by the initials BMUV, whose full name is the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, while Conexio-PSE is the organising partner. The theme chosen for the edition is "Powering the Global South".

From Annadata to Urjadata

The conference is built around the idea of "From Power to Empower". The Prime Minister's view, placed before the delegates, is that the clean energy transition is redrawing the shape of Indian farming: a cultivator who was only a producer of food, an Annadata, can now also become a producer of clean energy, an Urjadata. International stakeholders, scientists and industry leaders were asked to scale up precision agrivoltaics solutions so that farm incomes rise at the same time as the shift to clean power gathers pace.

Who spoke on the opening day

The opening session began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and welcome remarks by Santosh K. Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi addressed the gathering, followed by a video message from Carsten Schneider, the German federal minister for environment and climate action. Dr Jasper Wieck, Germany's Ambassador to India and Bhutan, gave special remarks, and Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik was present.

Three documents released

Who is attending

More than 1200 delegates have gathered for the summit, among them over 150 participants from abroad, including experts, policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, innovators, start-ups and development partners. The programme runs an India Focus Track alongside two parallel scientific tracks, covering crop productivity, state level leadership, policy design, financing models, technology deployment and farmer-centred business models. A start-up platform called the AgriVoltaics Pitch Hub is showcasing new technology to clean-tech investors.