Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy

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Well-intentioned regulations to protect Canada's most productive farmland restrict large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) development. The recent innovation of agrivoltaics, which is the co-development of land for both PV and agriculture, makes these regulations obsolete. Burgeoning agrivoltaics research has shown agricultural benefits, including increased yield for a wide range of crops, plant protection from excess solar energy and hail, and improved water conservation, while maintaining agricultural employment and local food supplies. In addition, the renewable electricity generation decreases greenhouse gas emissions while increasing farm revenue. As Canada, and Ontario in particular, is at a strategic disadvantage in agriculture without agrivoltaics, this study investigates the policy changes necessary to capitalize on the benefits of using agrivoltaics in Ontario. Land-use policies in Ontario are reviewed. Then, three case studies (peppers, sweet corn, and winter wheat) are analysed for agrivoltaic potential in Ontario. These results are analysed in conjunction with potential policies that would continue to protect the green-belt of the Golden Horseshoe, while enabling agrivoltaics in Ontario. Four agrivoltaic policy areas are discussed: increased research and development, enhanced education/public awareness, mechanisms to support Canada's farmers converting to agrivoltaics, and using agrivoltaics as a potential source of trade surplus with the U.S.

Services provided by agrivoltaics are denoted by the icons (a) renewable electricity generation, (b) decreased greenhouse gas emissions, (c) increased crop yield, (d) plant protection from excess solar energy, (e) plant protection from inclement weather, such as hail, (f) water conservation, (g) agricultural employment, (h) local food, and (i) increased revenue.

See also

The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.

Services provided by agrivoltaics are: renewable electricity generation, decreased green-house gas emissions, reduced climate change, increased crop yield, plant protection from excess solar energy, plant protection from inclement weather such as hail, water conservation, agricultural employment, local food, improved health from pollution reduction increased revenue for farmers, a hedge against inflation, the potential to produce nitrogen fertilizer on farm, on farm production of renewable fuels such as anhydrous ammonia or hydrogen, and electricity for EV charging for on- or off-farm use.
Agrivoltaics Canada - What is Agrivoltaics

In the News

From: Financial Analysis of Agrivoltaic Sheep: Breeding and Auction Lamb Business Models

  1. Raising sheep for grazing under solar panels makes everyone clean, green money - Western News
  2. Sheep Grazing Under Solar Panels Yields Green Profits Mirage News
  3. Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable TechXplore
  4. Agrivoltaics paired with sheep production makes nearly 100% of land grazable MSN
  5. Grazing ’solar’ sheep offer lucrative solution for farmers My Science
  6. Global Renwable News
  7. Rinnovabili
  8. Education News Canada
  9. How agrivoltaics and “solar” sheep are redefining profitable farming in Canada PV Buzz
  10. Nature’s best lawnmower: How solar grazing is changing the photovoltaic landscape Euronews
    1. Yahoo NewZealand
    2. Bundle
    3. Photos: Sheep grazing boosts solar farms and soil health in the US and Europe Interesting Engineering
  11. O melhor cortador de relva da natureza: como o pastoreio solar está a mudar a paisagem fotovoltaica EuroNews
  12. La meilleure tondeuse à gazon de la nature : comment le pâturage solaire change le paysage photovoltaïque - Observatoiredeleurope
  13. Solar sheep grazing under agrivoltaic arrays can maximise land use News9
  14. El mejor cortacésped natural: ¿Cómo el pastoreo solar está cambiando el panorama fotovoltaico? Yahoo Spain
  15. ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved Modern Science
  16. Sheep farmers are crazy about solar power plants: “Salaries are higher than lawyers” Central asia Climate Portal
  17. Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' The Cool Down
    1. MSN
  18. ‘Solar shepherds’ earn big by grazing sheep on solar farms — and they benefit everyone involved The Conversation
    1. Yahoo News
    2. Down to Earth
    3. Renew Economy
    4. Inkl
    5. The National Tribune (Australia)
    6. Winnipeg Free Press
    7. Morning Ag Clips
    8. The 14
    9. ATTRA NCAT
    10. OSU
  19. Får och solparker - en vinst för både lantbruk, får och klimat Energinyheter (se)
  20. Researchers make unexpected discovery about sheep raised in nontraditional environment: 'There is an enormous opportunity' Yahoo
  21. Une étude révèle un duo gagnant : moutons et panneaux solaires, “un potentiel immense” Le Energeek
  22. ‘Farming Sunshine’ Brings Food, Power Producers Together for Local Baaa-nefit The Energy Mix
  23. Bùng nổ ngành nông nghiệp quang điện Saigon Online
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