We turn field insights into evidence that shapes better policy, investment, and programme decisions
Oorja’s Research & Evidence Unit works at the intersection of agriculture, solar energy, and rural livelihoods. Alongside implementation, we have built a dedicated research and evidence function focused on generating practical insights that inform policy, investment, and programme design across the clean energy and agriculture ecosystem.
Our research combines field-embedded learning, rigorous analysis, and long-term datasets from real operating environments.
Our research benefits from long-term engagement with farming communities and access to real-time operational datasets across multiple regions.
Our research focuses on agriculture and solar energy, with a strong emphasis on real-world implementation and decision-oriented insights. We work in rural regions of India and South Asia, engaging with smallholder farmers in low grid-connectivity areas to generate practical, scalable solutions grounded in on-ground realities.
Co-designed studies examining service delivery effectiveness, business model viability, and pathways to scale for organisations. Research is developed in partnership with universities and think tanks to ensure academic rigour and generate sector-relevant evidence.
Structured research to understand farmer needs, technology adoption, willingness to pay, and the viability of clean energy solutions across existing and new regions.
Impact assessments, advisory on data systems and measurement frameworks, and applied research focused on gender, agriculture, and climate resilience.
Understanding how reliable irrigation and solar energy influence productivity, cost efficiency, and income stability.
Research on gender and social inclusion to understand who benefits and how.
Studies on adoption, affordability, and long-term sustainability of solar irrigation and productive-use systems.
Evidence on diesel displacement, resource efficiency, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Research that supports scalable and financially viable clean energy solutions.
Oorja has partnered with leading research institutions, international organisations, and sector platforms to generate field-based evidence across India.
India has around 1 million standalone solar irrigation pumps, many of whose capacity lies idle beyond irrigation seasons. This report presents findings from an experimental field study in Uttar Pradesh assessing whether spare solar power can be channelled into grain mills to generate greater benefits for smallholders, women, and rural entrepreneurs.
This report by IWMI benchmarks the performance of off-grid solar irrigation pumps in Eastern and Central India, including systems operated by Oorja in Bahraich and Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. It assesses usage patterns, irrigated area, revenue models, and equity of access to understand the drivers of efficiency and impact. The study highlights key insights into improving the performance and utilization of solar pumps to maximize social return and support rural livelihoods.
This report by GOGLA explores how decentralized renewable energy solutions are enabling productive use technologies across sectors like agriculture, food processing, and retail. Featuring Oorja’s solar irrigation model in India, the report highlights the impact of clean energy on livelihoods, business viability, and local economies, while offering recommendations to scale PURE solutions globally.
This sector-defining research spotlights the gap in access to life-changing, off-grid solar appliances for millions worldwide. The report features Oorja’s Irrigation-as-a-Service model as a crucial tool to transform the lives of smallholder farmers in India by making it sustainable.
We work with research institutions, foundations, multilateral organisations, and private sector partners to generate applied research that strengthens sustainable agriculture and clean energy systems.
