While solar energy development is enjoying its time in the sun, Alberta Innovates has it made in the shade. Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels. A new pilot study conducted by InnoTech Alberta is examining how to best leverage the land used for solar panels for crops.
A recent article published by the CBC highlights how land used for solar electricity can benefit from the presence of livestock, such as sheep and pigs, who have been brought in to help cull the weeds in Alberta’s solar fields. InnoTech Alberta has partnered with Kiwentinohk Energy to run a pilot study in Vegreville, that focuses on making the most of the shade beneath the solar panels.
This project, led by Chibuike Chigbo, aims at establishing and managing forage cover within the bounds of an active solar installation. Different vegetation mixes and management techniques will be tested, and forage biomass and changes to functional soil health will be measured. This project aims to make InnoTech a go-to facility for solar-land use research providing important support to industry on strategies for sustainable land use related to solar developments.
The test site was seeded in June 2024, and the panel installation will be completed by fall. By 2025, sheep will be seen grazing amongst the panels of a test solar field at InnoTech Alberta’s Vegreville facility.