Brief description of the organization
Agrivoltaics Canada is an association focused on promoting the integration of solar energy systems with agricultural practices. The organization advocates for the development of agrivoltaic solutions that allow for dual land use, enabling farming and solar energy generation on the same land. Agrivoltaics Canada supports research, policy development, and collaboration among farmers, energy developers, and stakeholders to advance sustainable practices in both the agricultural and renewable energy sectors. The association plays a key role in driving innovation and shaping the future of agrivoltaics in Canada.
Problem area
The deployment of agrivoltaics in Ontario faces a significant challenge due to regulatory requirements. Each municipality must provide a Municipal Support Resolution to host energy projects, adding an administrative layer to project approval. Additionally, the province mandates that no solar projects can be placed on prime agricultural lands as defined by the municipal Official Plan. This creates a hurdle for agrivoltaics, as planners are forced to consider non-agricultural areas or to rezone lands that may not meet the prime agricultural criteria for
hosting solar.
An alternative approach being advocated, including by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is to establish a carve-out for agrivoltaics as distinct from traditional solar projects. This would allow agrivoltaic systems, which combine farming and energy production, to be deployed on prime agricultural land, recognizing their dual use and potential benefits for both agriculture and energy production. This policy shift would open the door for agrivoltaics to play a larger role in Ontario's energy future while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Main objectives
Stakeholder collaboration and education - Foster collaborative policy development between farmers, energy developers, and policymakers.
Action: Create platforms for discussion and education around the potential of agrivoltaics. Engage agricultural communities to ensure their concerns and insights are incorporated into planning and deployment efforts, highlighting the financial and operational benefits of integrating solar with farming.
Policy advocacy and regulatory reforms - Advocate for policy changes that distinguish agrivoltaics from traditional solar projects.
Action: Work with provincial and municipal authorities to create a carve-out for agrivoltaics, allowing its deployment on prime agricultural lands. Engage with organizations like the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to drive this change.
Municipal engagement and support - Secure consistent municipal support for agrivoltaic projects.
Action: Educate municipalities on the benefits of agrivoltaics and work with them to develop a standardized streamlined process for obtaining Municipal Support Resolutions. Promote the dual-use value of agrivoltaics as a way to enhance land productivity while meeting energy goals.
Rezoning and land use flexibility - Assess zoning constraints to help ensure flexibility in land use policies to accommodate agrivoltaics on non-prime agricultural lands for municipalities across Ontario.
Action: Collaborate with urban planners and municipalities, as well as associations AMO and ROMA, to explore rezoning options for lands that are not classified as prime agricultural but still suitable for agrivoltaic projects, bringing in taxation opportunities. Highlight the environmental and economic benefits to support rezoning efforts.
Scope of work
Municipal policy and Official Plan review to identify hosting potential, value for the municipality. Perform reviews of past issues and successes (i.e.. Wind Concerns Ontario - Unwilling Host). Review past council resolutions and historic support and opposition to solar in regions and resulting legislation. Review agrivoltaics as an Agriculturally-Related activity versus an On-Farm Diversified Use, as currently assessed in the Provincial Planning Statement. Providing a roadmap of municipal and provincial engagement to see agrivoltaics be a qualified technology on prime agricultural areas to meet the Ontario IESO administered energy procurements.
Deliverables
- Reports tailored to present to municipal planners and Mayor and Council as it relates to quick assessment of current policies, constraints and steps to build out when presented with a favourable project.
- Forms for municipalities to sign off for provincial support to allow agrivoltaic hosting. Materials to present to the Premiers Office, Energy, Agriculture and Municipal Affairs Ministers and Offices.
Team meeting frequency
Bi-weekly.
Skills and training required
The ability to research and synthesize the broad array of municipal materials as it relates to solar approvals and past projects would be very useful to provide Agrivoltaics Canada with a database of projects, willing hosts, and particular conditions for approval.
Resources required
- The resources will be primarily digital and publicly available.
- The team will have access to the association's body of knowledge, studies and professional developers, consultants, grazers and academics.
- Transport for community specific meetings may help broaden the feedback from in-person meetings.