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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.
News, Other

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

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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
Weather Vane by Daniel Bezte
Other, Weather, Weather Vane

Heat, land and water

Land and water react very differently to incoming solar radiation, with huge effect

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Before jumping back to our meteorology 101 classes, we have to say a few words about this spring’s snow melt. Holy cow, was that fast! Perfect conditions came together for what can only be called one of the fastest snow melts I can remember. First off, most areas did not have deep snow cover and
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.
Farmit Manitoba, Machinery

What are agrivoltaics — and can they generate money?

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

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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
A new photo cell could generate electricity for greenhouse operators without harming crop production.
News, Other

New solar panels grab light from above and below

Potential solution towards balance between crop growth and electricity generation capabilities

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Electricity is a major expense for Canadian greenhouse growers. At the same time, large greenhouse facilities offer potential to produce renewable solar energy — but the challenge to date has been how to do that without impacting the growth and productivity of the crop inside. A potential solution from Ontario solar panel manufacturer Heliene is
Other, Weather

Weather school: How Earth manages its energy input

How land and water are arranged on Earth greatly affect its weather

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In our last weather class, we were looking at Earth’s greenhouse effect and how it keeps the planet warm enough for life as we know it to exist. That was a part of our general look at Earth’s energy balance. With that in mind, this week’s lesson looks at the difference between land and water and how they “manage” the
Melissa Pawlisch, director with the University of Minnesota’s Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) was a guest speaker at the Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association conference in Winnipeg earlier this month.
Local news, News, Other

Clean energy can drive rural economy

Speakers call for switching out some of the $4 billion now spent on fossil fuel imports to Manitoba with homegrown renewable energy sources

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Businesses are powered by solar panels on rooftops in downtown Minneapolis while small towns across the state source solar energy from “solar gardens” and farms harness the power of the sun to power up their barns. Minnesota has become a leading U.S. state for its adoption of solar and other renewable energy sources, thanks to
International news, Other

Solar power push lights up options for India’s rural women

Keeping the lights on — and factories running — with solar panels has been a game changer

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Thomson Reuters Foundation – In her village of Komalia, the fog swirls so thick at 7 a.m. that Akansha Singh can see no more than 15 metres ahead. But the 20-year-old is already cycling to her workplace, nine kilometres away. Halfway there she stops for two hours at a computer training centre, where she’s learning
Otterburne-area dairy farmer Hans Gorter now has a new 175-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the farm to provide all the farm’s electrical energy needs.
Dairy cattle, Local news, Other

Otterburne dairy is Manitoba’s largest solar-powered farm

The off-grid option has upfront costs but locks in energy costs for the foreseeable future


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A southern Manitoba dairy is just days away from flipping the switch on the largest solar-powered farm in Manitoba. Optimist Holsteins Ltd. near Otterburne is in final stages of setting up a newly installed 175-kilowatt, solar photovoltaic (PV) system. When operational it will begin producing enough power to meet all the farm’s electrical needs while
Duane Kent of Beiseker, Alta., is 500 kilometres from both his herd near Biggar, Sask., and his solar-powered remote watering system. The producer has integrated cameras and internet controls to make up for the distance.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Watering cattle with solar power

Producers give solar-powered watering systems top marks despite their ups and downs

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It’s been five years since Doug Northam traded in his sloughs for solar, and the Rapid City producer gives his remote watering system glowing reviews. “Around here we don’t have any wells or anything, so the cows just drink out of the sloughs and when they dry back a bit they tend to be three
There’s one more year left to run on a farmer-friendly Manitoba Hydro 
solar installation program.
Local news

Manitoba sunshine brightens solar power opportunities

Many hours of sunshine make power generation possible even in the dead of winter

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Justin Phillips doesn’t mince his words: If you’re a Manitoba farmer, the time to invest in solar power is right now. The Winnipeg-based businessman helped pioneer the solar industry in Manitoba and has watched Manitoba Hydro kick-start the industry to unexpected heights via a farmer-friendly pilot program that has one year left on it. That

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