Solar Panels vs. Farmland: Who Said We Had to Choose?

Apparently, a field can only do one job. Unless it’s growing crops, feeding sheep, supporting pollinators or producing electricity. Then things get interesting.

For years, renewable-energy discussions have sometimes presented a rather frustrating choice.

Do we use land to grow food? Or do we use it to generate electricity?

It's a reasonable concern, particularly in rural communities where farmland is an essential economic and environmental resource.

But what if the question itself is too limiting? What if some land could do both?

Meet agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics is the practice of combining agricultural production with solar electricity generation on the same land.

Depending on the design, that might mean growing crops beneath or between solar panels, grazing livestock around installations or incorporating other agricultural activities into a solar site.

And no, this doesn't mean covering every field in Ontario with solar panels.

It means examining whether certain agricultural and energy uses can coexist.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), agrivoltaic projects are being explored and implemented in different parts of the world, including China, Japan and several African countries.

Applications include crop production, livestock grazing and other agricultural activities. The idea is simple: rather than treating food production and energy generation as automatic competitors, look for opportunities where both can benefit.

One field, multiple possibilities

Solar panels can provide partial shade, which may benefit certain crops under particular growing conditions.

Some projects allow livestock to graze around the installations, helping manage vegetation. Other designs make room for pollinator habitats or agricultural equipment. But here's where we need to resist the temptation to oversell the idea.

Not every crop benefits from shade. Not every solar installation is suitable for farming. And not every piece of agricultural land should be considered for energy development.

Panel height, spacing, soil quality, water availability, farming equipment and local climate all matter.

Successful agrivoltaics requires careful design, not just putting a few sheep beside solar panels and declaring victory.

Farmers deserve a seat at the table

The most important part of this conversation isn't necessarily the technology. It's the people who work the land.

Farmers understand their properties, local conditions and operational needs. Renewable-energy developers bring expertise in electricity generation and project financing. The most promising solutions emerge when those perspectives are considered together.

IRENA emphasizes that successful projects depend on local needs, practical design, access to financing and meaningful stakeholder participation.

In other words, consultation shouldn't be the last item on the project checklist. It should be part of the starting point.

What could this mean for Ontario?

Ontario has valuable agricultural land, growing electricity needs and communities that deserve a meaningful voice in land-use decisions.

These priorities don't always align perfectly.

But exploring compatible uses, including appropriate agrivoltaic designs, may offer additional options.

At OREC, we believe renewable-energy development should be thoughtful, community-focused and responsive to local circumstances.

And perhaps the next time someone asks whether a field should produce food or electricity, we can respond with a slightly more interesting question:

Under the right conditions, could it do both?

Learn more about Thumbs up, solar-powered agriculture through IRENA and explore OREC's renewable-energy initiatives.