{"id":98991,"key":"Agrivoltaics_in_Ontario_Canada:_Promise_and_Policy","title":"Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy","latest":{"id":1274044,"timestamp":"2026-09-16T15:45:22Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{Solar footer}}\n\n{{FAST notice}}\n\n[[File:Agrivoltaic-infographic.png|thumb]]\n\n{{Publication data\n| type = Paper\n| cite-as = Pearce, J.M. Agrivoltaics in Ontario Canada: Promise and Policy. Sustainability 2022, 14, 3037. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14053037 [https://www.academia.edu/73025671/Agrivoltaics_in_Ontario_Canada_Promise_and_Policy academia], [https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202112.0430/v1 preprint]\n| year = 2022\n| location = Ontario\n}}\n\nWell-intentioned regulations to protect Canada's most productive farmland restrict large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) development. The recent innovation of agrivoltaics, which is the co-development of land for both PV and agriculture, makes these regulations obsolete. Burgeoning agrivoltaics research has shown agricultural benefits, including increased yield for a wide range of crops, plant protection from excess solar energy and hail, and improved water conservation, while maintaining agricultural employment and local food supplies. In addition, the renewable electricity generation decreases greenhouse gas emissions while increasing farm revenue. As Canada, and Ontario in particular, is at a strategic disadvantage in agriculture without agrivoltaics, this study investigates the policy changes necessary to capitalize on the benefits of using agrivoltaics in Ontario. Land-use policies in Ontario are reviewed. Then, three case studies (peppers, sweet corn, and winter wheat) are analysed for agrivoltaic potential in Ontario. These results are analysed in conjunction with potential policies that would continue to protect the green-belt of the Golden Horseshoe, while enabling agrivoltaics in Ontario. Four agrivoltaic policy areas are discussed: increased research and development, enhanced education/public awareness, mechanisms to support Canada's farmers converting to agrivoltaics, and using agrivoltaics as a potential source of trade surplus with the U.S.\n\n{{Pearce publications notice}}\n\n[[File:Agrivoltaic-infographic.png|700px]]\n\n Services provided by agrivoltaics are denoted by the icons (a) renewable electricity generation, (b) decreased greenhouse gas emissions, (c) increased crop yield, (d) plant protection from excess solar energy, (e) plant protection from inclement weather, such as hail, (f) water conservation, (g) agricultural employment, (h) local food, and (i) increased revenue.\n\n== See also ==\n\n{{Pearce-agrivoltaics}}\n\n{{Page data\n| keywords = energy, solar energy, solar power, photovoltaics, Photovoltaic, Agrivoltaic, Land use, Dual use, agriculture, Greater Golden Horseshoe, Canada; energy policy, farming, Ontario, FAST Completed\n| sdg = SDG02 Zero hunger, SDG07 Affordable and clean energy, SDG08 Decent work and economic growth, SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure, SDG12 Responsible consumption and production\n| published = 2022\n| organizations = Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology, Western\n| license = CC-BY-SA-4.0\n| language = en\n| description = Ontario’s agrivoltaic potential is explained on Appropedia, showing challenges and benefits for farmland and clean power.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Energy]]\n[[Category:Land use]]\n[[Category:Farming]]\n[[Category:Ontario]]\n[[Category:FAST Completed]]"}