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The Agrivoltaic Potential of Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Uzair Jamil

    (Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Abigail Bonnington

    (Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Joshua M. Pearce

    (Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
    Ivey Business School, Western University, London, ON N6G 0N1, Canada)

Abstract

Canada has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by increasing the non-emitting share of electricity generation to 90% by 2030. As solar energy costs have plummeted, agrivoltaics (the co-development of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and agriculture) provide an economic path to these goals. This study quantifies agrivoltaic potential in Canada by province using geographical information system analysis of agricultural areas and numerical simulations. The systems modeled would enable the conventional farming of field crops to continue (and potentially increase yield) by using bifacial PV for single-axis tracking and vertical system configurations. Between a quarter (vertical) and more than one third (single-axis tracking) of Canada’s electrical energy needs can be provided solely by agrivoltaics using only 1% of current agricultural lands. These results show that agrivoltaics could be a major contributor to sustainable electricity generation and provide Canada with the ability to render the power generation sector net zero/GHG emission free. It is clear that the potential of agrivoltaic-based solar energy production in Canada far outstrips current electric demand and can, thus, be used to electrify and decarbonize transportation and heating, expand economic opportunities by powering the burgeoning computing sector, and export green electricity to the U.S. to help eliminate their dependence on fossil fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Uzair Jamil & Abigail Bonnington & Joshua M. Pearce, 2023. "The Agrivoltaic Potential of Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3228-:d:1063972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jamil, Uzair & Hickey, Thomas & Pearce, Joshua M., 2024. "Solar energy modelling and proposed crops for different types of agrivoltaics systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    2. Hayibo, Koami Soulemane & Pearce, Joshua M., 2023. "Vertical free-swinging photovoltaic racking energy modeling: A novel approach to agrivoltaics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).

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