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A recent study conducted in Canada indicates that solar farms could significantly enhance global crop production by hundreds of billions of pounds. This increase is attributed to the beneficial microclimate that develops beneath solar panels, which appears to protect and nurture the crops growing underneath.
Concerns regarding food security have long fueled opposition to extensive solar installations, with detractors arguing that these projects consume valuable farmland that could otherwise be dedicated to agriculture. However, research led by Professor Joshua Pearce from Western University in Ontario challenges this notion. His team discovered that agrivoltaic systems—where crops are cultivated beneath solar panel arrays—offer advantages such as shading that protects plants from extreme weather conditions including heatwaves and hail. Furthermore, these systems enhance soil vitality and encourage the recycling of nutrients crucial for plant growth.
An intriguing finding from Pearce’s research is that the protective microclimate benefits persist even when the solar panels are not actively generating electricity. This implies that solar farms, even after being decommissioned, can remain valuable to farmers by supporting soil conservation, reducing heat stress on crops, and enabling livestock grazing. According to their models, passive shading provided by non-functioning solar panels could raise crop yields worldwide by an estimated $580 billion (£435 billion).
Professor Pearce emphasized the ongoing potential of such solar arrays beyond their energy-producing lifespan, stating, “Decommissioned or unpowered arrays should not be dismissed as obsolete but rather reconsidered as durable agronomic assets. These systems can continue to support soil conservation, reduce crop heat stress and sustain livestock grazing even beyond their energy-producing lifespans.”
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