The idea of combining solar with farming is revolutionizing how we look at farmland and the economics of farming and ranching. We explore how solar + farming is increasing the productivity and the viability of farms. 

Agrivoltaics

Of the 466,000 oil and gas wells in Alberta on third are active and 170,000 are suspended or abandoned. What to do? Keith Hirsche was a farm kid from Taber, Alberta and his company RenuWell wrapped up two pilot projects to transform a couple of long-abandoned well sites into small solar farms which are now owned by St. Mary's Irrigation District. We visit the sites with Daryl Bennett from RenuWell and discover one of the most amazing examples of energy transition anywhere. 
GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

In part 2 we talk to Trevor Hellwig of St. Mary's Irrigation District the folks who own these two projects. Turns out solar and irrigation are a perfect match.

370. RenuWell - Transforming abandoned oil wells into solar farms - Part 1

Part 2 in Green Energy Futures' series on RenuWell, the idea of transforming abandoned oil wells into small solar farms. In this episode, we talk to Trevor Helwig of St. Mary River Irrigation District, the owner of the two RenuWell solar pilot projects. Irrigation and solar are a good match since they both work hardest when the sun shines. 
GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast

370B. RenuWell - Solar on abandoned oil wells powers irrigation

Solar plus farming, called Agrivoltaics is helping farmers generate new sources of income, keep the family farm viable and keep farming in the solar farm. We meet up with farmer, former oil and gas guy and current renewable energy developer Claude Mindorf at the Joffre Solar Farm in Alberta to talk about agrivoltaics. 

It turns out Canada could produce all of its electricity from renewable energy that would occupy less than 1% of farmland and enhance the viability of farming itself at the same time. 
GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Video Podcast

382A. Agrivoltaics, Keeping the farm in the solar farm

Farmer Shawn Morton just said "no" the first time he was approached by solar developers. But Morton found an ally in Claude Mindorff a farmer who was working for the solar company. So he cut a deal to lease 300 acres to a solar project and to keep grazing and farming that land in the lease. It's called Agrivoltaics, or the integration of solar with farming or grazing and Shawn says it just might be the thing that can help keep his 100-year family farm in the family. 
GreenEnergyFutures.ca CKUA.com Podcast
Blog GreenEnergyFutures.ca

382B. Agrivoltaics - Saving the family farm by integrating solar and farming

Janna Greir and her partner Ryan always loved the idea of ranching, living in the country, and operating a small farm, but becoming a first-generation farmer is nearly impossible these days.
That is until she discovered the combination of sheep and solar. The family had a dozen sheep until she landed a contract with Capital Power to manage the vegetation on their Strathmore Solar Farm. Janna has become an expert in vegetation management since then and the land is now much more productive and her flock has grown to more than 1,000 sheep on this one site alone.
Not only has Janna grown her flock significantly, she is also doing consulting work to help others do the same. Her experience points to a bright future for farming and solar.

Part 1 in a 2-part series.
GreenEnergyFutures CKUA.com Video Podcast
BLOG at GreenEnergyFutures.ca

394A. Solar and Sheep - First generation farmer builds thriving operation by combining the two

In part 2 of our Solar & Sheep series first generation farmer Janna Greir adds Kunekune pigs to her solar & sheep farm. It turns out these cute little oinkers are symbiotic with the sheep. They eat parasites and worms left behind by the sheep thus interrupting their lifecycle keeping the sheep healthier. 
www.GreenEnergyFutures.ca www.CKUA.com Podcast
Full story https://greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/394-first-generation-farmer-janna-greir-builds-thriving-operation-by-combining-sheep-and-solar
Be sure to check our part 1 and 
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394B. Janna Greir adds Kunekune pigs to her thriving Solar & Sheep operation

The CKUA Radio podcast of the GreenEnergyFutures.ca series. The multi-media series is hosted by David Dodge and tells the inspiring stories of Canadians involved in the green energy revolution.