Covering crops with solar panels may not seem intuitive. However, dozens of studies from all over the world have shown that many crop yields increase when they are partially shaded by solar panels.

Comment: Agrivoltaics are the silver bullet Alberta’s United Conservatives have wished for

It is possible to both foster solar power infrastructure and preserve farmland

The Alberta government recently announced a much-maligned seven-month pause on renewable (including solar) energy development in the province. While the exact reasons are up for debate, one specific factor has been the desire to investigate ways to make renewable energy, particularly solar, more integrated within the province over the long term. Specifically, there is a

Many crops grown here, including corn, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat and pasture grass, have already been proven to increase with agrivoltaics.

Comment: Solar panel shade an untapped productivity booster

Shading crops with solar panels can be a win-win for both energy production and yields

If you’ve ever had a trampoline in your backyard, you may have seen the unreasonably tall grass growing under it. This is because many crops, including these grasses, actually grow better when protected from the sun, to an extent. Researchers in the field of solar photovoltaic technology—a fancy way of saying ‘how to use solar


Shown here are solar panels from Europe that allow for a tractor to mow in between rows.  This type of panel can also be used as fencing for livestock, according to the manufacturer, Next2Sun GmbH.

What are agrivoltaics — and can they generate money?

Ten sites are being tested next year in Ontario; proponents say better policies could help solar

Canada’s pastures and cropland are prime sites for the mass deployment of solar energy infrastructure, according to advocates of agrivoltaics – a term used to describe the simultaneous use of land for solar energy and food production. The use of solar panels on buildings, in pastures and in other areas of working farms is not new. Solar farms