Alberta Embraces Solar Power for Cost Savings, Land Reclamation, and Agricultural Innovation

Alberta is increasingly turning to solar energy, not just for electricity generation, but also as a multifaceted solution to reduce operational costs, aid in the reclamation of industrial sites, and foster innovative agricultural practices. The province is exploring solar installations at correctional facilities, encouraging oil and gas companies to use disturbed lands for solar projects, and promoting agrivoltaics, which combines farming with solar energy production.

Key Takeaways

• Alberta plans to install solar panels at five correctional facilities, aiming for significant energy cost savings.

• A government report suggests oil and gas companies could use old well sites for solar projects, potentially reducing reclamation obligations.

• Agrivoltaics, the integration of agriculture and solar power, is gaining traction, with projects involving livestock and crop cultivation under solar panels.

Correctional Facilities Go Solar

The Alberta government is set to install solar arrays at five of its ten correctional facilities, with an estimated annual energy cost saving of $1 million. These installations are projected to offset approximately 80 percent of the energy used at each site. The province sees the underutilized land at these facilities as an ideal location for ground-mounted solar arrays. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of government operations. While this is a novel approach in Canada, similar projects have been implemented in correctional facilities in the United States.

Solar Solutions for Oil and Gas Reclamation

A government-commissioned report proposes that oil and gas companies could install solar panels on disturbed well sites as an alternative to full land reclamation. This approach aims to provide both environmental and economic benefits by repurposing land and potentially reducing cleanup costs for companies. However, critics point out a potential contradiction with other government policies that restrict renewable energy development on agricultural land and require upfront reclamation costs for solar projects. The report also explores using carbon credits or the provincial carbon levy fund to finance cleanup, which has also drawn criticism for potentially weakening environmental policy integrity.

The Rise of Agrivoltaics

Alberta is also at the forefront of agrivoltaics, a field that merges solar energy generation with agricultural activities. Companies are experimenting with grazing livestock, such as sheep and cattle, on solar farm land to manage vegetation and reduce mowing needs. Research indicates that certain crops can even thrive under the partial shade of solar panels, creating a protected micro-environment that conserves water and shields from harsh weather. Projects near Strathmore are testing innovative approaches, including mobile coops for chickens and advanced beekeeping systems within solar fields. These initiatives aim to demonstrate that solar farms can coexist with and even enhance agricultural productivity, addressing concerns about land use and promoting sustainable practices.

Sources

• Alberta government looks to solar to lower energy costs at correctional facilities, CBC.

• Alberta oil and gas companies could install solar panels to avoid cleanup costs, The Narwhal.

• Helping farmers access cheaper power with solar panels, Canada's National Observer.

• How agrivoltaics is marrying food production with green energy in Alberta, CBC.

• This Alberta solar field is becoming a high-tech hobby farm on the side, CBC.