3 days ago
Varanashi Farms pilots solar panel upcycling project
Mangaluru: Varanashi Farms in Adyanadka of Dakshina Kannada district, known for its regenerative organic farming that merges modern soil biology with traditional Vedic farming practices, is probably the first site in India to pilot Surya Arka, an innovative solution that upcycles end-of-life (EoL) solar panels.
As part of a collaborative research initiative between the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Imperial College London, the farm installed solar arches, a hybrid structure that combines four functional photovoltaic panels with 20 decommissioned ones, repurposed using polytunnel technology to create a resilient, energy-generating nursery for cacao saplings.
"The placement of these panels is based on light diffusion specs tailored for cacao (coco) and pepper nursery plants.
We are blending smart design with regenerative farming to create optimal growing conditions," Partha Varanashi, CEO of Varanashi Farms told TOI.
Established in 1846, Varanashi Farms practices multilayer cropping, cultivating over 100 plant varieties including coconut, cacao, nutmeg, black pepper, banana, and paddy rice. The new 14x4me nursery was assembled in just four days, using 25 factory-rejected panels from BHEL, repurposed aluminium scrap, and locally sourced acacia wood crafted by village carpenters.
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The design was developed by Asha Bakhai and Diego Muñoz Iglesias, students at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, in consultation with Dr Ashwini from Varanashi Farms and Dr Elena from Imperial College of London. "We have created a simple aluminium joint system that removes the need for expensive mounting infrastructure. It is low-cost, low-tech, and built for rapid assembly—perfect for rural and resource-constrained environments," said Asha.
The structure includes a solar-powered irrigation system that sustains the nursery even during monsoons, demonstrating how discarded PV panels can be transformed into functional farming assets. The project team is also developing an open-source web platform that uses geospatial data to help users worldwide repurpose their decommissioned solar panels.
In India, such panels could offer shade for buildings, power for Wi-Fi and lighting, or cooling for crops.
In the UK, car parks, stadiums, and greenhouses could benefit from similar applications.
The site is now a training ground for those visiting to understand sustainable agriculture. "We host students from around the world. This initiative helps them connect energy, ecology, and enterprise," said Partha. The project is funded by the IISc-Imperial Seed Grant and the Imperial India Connect Fund.
