If you've ever lived in a house with a backyard trampoline, you've probably noticed that the grass is incredibly tall underneath. Indeed, many plants, including these herbs, grow well with some degree of protection from the sun.
Because the grass under the trampoline grows by itself, researchers in solar photovoltaic technology, which consists of solar panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity, are trying to shade large fields with solar panels.
This practice of growing crops in the shade protected by solar panels is called farming. This is happening in Canada.
This photovoltaic agriculture can help meet Canada's food and energy needs and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions in the future.
If shadow equals protection
Our recent article showed that Canada has enormous agricultural potential as a global agricultural hub, and we set goals of $75 billion in Canadian-produced food exports by 2025.
Agrovoltaic production of renewable electricity, greenhouse gas reduction, crop improvement, crop protection, etc. provides various services including (S. Jameel, A. Bonnington, JM Pierce) provided by the author .
Many of the crops grown here, including corn, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat, and hay, have already shown growth with the help of farm cells.
Studies around the world have shown that yields increase when plants are partially shaded by solar panels. This increase in productivity is possible thanks to the microclimate created under the solar panels, which conserves water and protects the plants from excessive sun, wind, hail and soil erosion. This produces more food per acre and can help lower food prices.
As the cost of solar energy falls, countries around the world are installing agricultural PV systems and offsetting fossil fuel burning by producing more renewable energy.
Solar farming is trending all over the world right now
Agribusinesses in Europe, Asia, and the United States, with broad public support, are actively expanding agricultural plantations.
In Europe, solar panels are placed on various types of plants, including fruit trees. Meanwhile, China is using agricultural elements to combat desertification, literally using solar panels to turn the deserts of the past green.
Social studies in the US have shown that the PV industry, farmers and the general public are looking forward to such projects.
Polls in the rural US from Michigan to Texas show that 81.8% of respondents would be more supportive of solar energy development in their communities if it included agriculture. Villagers generally like the idea of keeping jobs in agriculture, increasing revenue from energy sales, and the fact that it can become a permanent source of income. They believe it can act as a buffer against inflation and bad growing seasons.
It's time to expand Canada's solar parks
In Canada, agricultural elements were mainly used in conventional solar farms and were used by shepherds and their sheep. While the shepherds are paid to cut the grass on the solar farms, the sheep use the grass and brush under the solar panels for shade and grazing. Sheep farm cages are found in Canada.
A map showing Canada's agricultural potential. The colors reflect the solar flux (amount of solar energy per unit area) on the seeded areas. (S. Jameel, A. Bonnington, JM Pierce), courtesy of the authors
A farm life-cycle analysis that assessed their impact from concept to operation found that these solar farms emit 69.3% less greenhouse gases and require 82.9% less fossil energy than individual food farms and on-farm solar production.
That's great, but in order for Canada to remain competitive with other large agricultural producers, Canada needs to get into large-scale solar farming. This will allow many known products to increase yield when mulching.
These include vegetables such as broccoli, celery, peppers, lettuce, spinach and tomatoes, as well as field crops such as potatoes, corn and wheat.
Serious implementation of mobile agriculture in Canada will completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels. With this system, less than 1% of Canada's land area would be enough to meet more than 25% of the country's electricity needs.
This, in turn, could help the country meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments by increasing the share of emission-free electricity production to 90% by 2030.
Agricultural solar farms outpace electricity demand
Canada's solar energy production potential far exceeds current electricity demand. This solar energy could be used to electrify and decarbonize transportation and heating, expand economic opportunities through a booming IT sector, and export clean electricity to the United States, all of which would help break its dependence on fossil fuels.
Electricity produced by photovoltaic farms can also be stored by charging electric vehicles, as well as hydrogen production, which helps in transportation. Solar energy can cost-effectively meet Ontario's home heating needs by replacing natural gas furnaces with solar-powered heat pumps.
Finally, any extra agricultural electricity could be used to power computers and cryptocurrency miners for profit, perhaps exported to the US to clean up their dirtiest grids. This would help create a positive trade balance in addition to the health and environmental benefits of reducing US pollution across borders.
When the benefits exceed the costs
Despite the many benefits of agricultural electroplating, there are some barriers to its expansion in Canada. The return of these farms is hindered by well-intentioned regulations.
For example, in Ontario you can't install solar panels on green space because of the Farm Protection Act. Similar cases have occurred on Alberta Crown land.
It used to make sense. We did not want a repeat of the US refusal to raise energy crop prices. We now know that we can get more food by using solar technology to produce electricity with photovoltaic cells.
Another major issue preventing the return of agricultural cells is the cost of capital. Agrovoltaics has higher capital costs per acre than farmers are used to, but higher returns. Therefore, despite profitability, it is difficult for farmers to independently create large agricultural systems.
This means we need new funding avenues, new partnerships and new business models to help Canada harness the strategic benefits of agricultural cells for our farmers and our country.
Joshua M. Pierce, President, John M. Thompson , Professor of Information Technology and Innovation, Western University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
