Alberta Solar Field Blooms into High-Tech Hobby Farm

A solar field in Alberta is undergoing a remarkable transformation, integrating advanced agricultural technology to become a high-tech hobby farm. This innovative project aims to demonstrate the synergy between renewable energy generation and food production, potentially reshaping the future of land use in the province.

A Dual-Purpose Powerhouse

The solar facility, located near Strathmore, Alberta, is not just generating approximately 40 megawatts of electricity daily. It's also becoming a hub for livestock and pollinators. The 130-hectare site is home to 110,000 solar panels, alongside a growing number of sheep, pigs, and chickens. Plans are also in place to introduce bees soon.

• Key Takeaways:The solar field will produce both electricity and agricultural products like eggs, honey, meat, and wool.It serves as a testbed for new technologies in agrivoltaics.The project addresses concerns about the impact of solar development on agricultural land.

Innovative Farming Technologies Deployed

Several cutting-edge technologies are being implemented to manage the agricultural operations. UKKÖ Robotics has installed self-propelled pasture barns for the chickens. These mobile coops move slowly throughout the day, allowing the birds to graze on fresh grass while evenly distributing their manure across the land. This is the first time UKKÖ's structures will operate on a solar site.

Beekeeping is also being revolutionized with Bee Cube's predator-proof, climate-controlled buildings. These structures can house up to 20 hives and are equipped with sensors to monitor vital hive conditions like temperature, humidity, and weight. Data collected will be used to improve bee health and provide management insights, potentially with AI integration in the future.

Rethinking Solar and Agriculture Integration

This initiative is partly a response to concerns raised by rural landowners about solar development impacting farmland. New regulations in Alberta and Ontario encourage or require agricultural integration with solar projects, depending on land quality. Janna Greir, co-founder of Solar Sheep, believes solar farming and traditional farming can coexist. Her company has been managing vegetation at this solar field for four summers using sheep and is now expanding to test other animals.

Capital Power, the owner of the solar project, is undertaking a 10-year soil-testing program to assess the impact of livestock, rotational grazing, and vegetation management on soil conditions. Wade Heuscher, solar manager for Capital Power, stated that the project aims to prove that land used for solar farms can remain productive for other purposes, calling it "the way of the future."

Sources

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