Agrivoltaics: Maximizing Land Use with Solar Energy at the Solar Farm Summit

The Smart Energy Company co-CEOs Jeff McAloon and Mark McAloon at the 2024 Solar Farm Summit in Chicago.

Insights from North America’s Agrivoltaics Expo

The Smart Energy Company co-CEOs Jeff McAloon and Mark McAloon at the 2024 Solar Farm Summit in Chicago.

Agrivoltaics—the practice of combining solar energy generation with agriculture—is transforming the future of farming. At The Smart Energy Company™, our mission is to help farmers reduce energy costs while making the most of their land. With rising electricity prices and increasing demand for sustainable farming, agrivoltaics offers a dual-benefit solution: renewable energy production and enhanced crop yields.

Key Takeaways from the 2024 Solar Farm Summit

The 2024 Solar Farm Summit in Chicago showcased innovations in solar farm design, agrivoltaic systems, and renewable energy financing. Experts, farmers, and industry leaders came together to discuss the future of solar-powered farms.

Topics covered included solar farm design, optimization, management, financing, policy and social impact. Some of the highlights for us were:

• Dr. Hannah Jones, the founder and CEO of SunFarm, the world’s largest solar farming company, delivered a keynote speech where she shared her vision of creating a global network of solar-powered farms that can provide clean energy and food for millions of people, while also restoring biodiversity and soil health. 
• A workshop on artificial intelligence and machine learning in solar farming. We learned how to use data from sensors, drones, satellites and weather stations to monitor and control farm operations, such as irrigation, fertilization, pest control and harvesting. 
• A panel discussion on the impact of solar on farming communities. Representatives (from various stakeholder groups, such as farmers, consumers, communities, NGOs and governments) discussed how agrivoltaics can create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve food quality and security, and enhance rural development. 
• An exhibition with some of the latest products and technologies in solar farming, such as smart solar panels, vertical farming systems, biodegradable mulches and solar-powered robots. 
  

After only two years, the Solar Farm Summit has already gained traction, reflecting the rapid expansion of agrivoltaics across North America.

Agrivoltaics and The Smart Energy Company™

As solar adoption grows, so do concerns over preserving farmland for food production. We designed the NOREASTER® solar energy solution with this in mind. Our ground-mounted solar works in harmony with active farm operations.

While the NOREASTER doesn’t tend to take up crop space, it was informative for us to see how manufacturers, developers and farmers are finding creative ways to ensure solar and agriculture can not only coexist on the land but can improve each other’s performance. Think vertical solar panels protecting crops from wind damage while producing electricity at the same time. Or solar installations that provide shelter to help regulate soil moisture. We’ve also seen projects like this one in Ontario where sheep farmers have partnered with a solar power operator to maintain the site through grazing.  

We are eager to learn more about how agrivoltaics can work, especially for farmers that we work with here in Canada: for example, through our partnership with McCain Foods for their Farms of the Future initiative. McCain has installed a 100kw NOREASTER® In-a-box system in Riverbank, New Brunswick. They are generating electricity and looking at how the micro solar farm is boosting the pollination of potatoes. The 2024 Solar Farm Summit reinforced the growing role of agrivoltaics in energy security and sustainable farming. We’re now proud members of Agrivoltaics Canada, continuing to explore innovations that will save farmers over $1 billion in electricity costs.

Ready to explore the possibilities of agrivoltaics on your farm?

Join this growing movement while saving on your energy costs. Reach out to our team today.