____ Power Projects Pause

[Blaithin]

Canola is a renewable energy source as well as a plastic source. Same applies to soy beans. I think there’s lots of potential for both crops, even though they’re monocropped monstrosities on a couple levels, they still have uses.

So how come there’s so much tax and hindrance applied when growing renewable fuel sources such as them.

[Guest]

maybe chucky can speak to that ?

[littledoggie]

Left alone, canola and soy would sprout. That is renewable. The wind, unfortunately, may not be renewable because it is quite possible that the wind towers are diverting wind. Or maybe even changing the jet stream. Or how about creating a wobble in the earths rotation? Unless it's flat of course.

[Blaithin]

Even if turbines divert wind the wind is still blowing. It’s not going to disappear, it’s always renewing so to speak. As long as there’s sun there will be wind.

I’d say the confusion is the idea that renewable means something is Net Zero. Even renewables require inputs, it’s just a matter of how much. They’re not carbon free.

[Guest]

[url]https://www.iflscience.com/portugal-just-ran-on-entirely-renewable-energy-for-a-record-breaking-6-consecutive-days-71643[/url]

[Happytrails]

My understanding is that like most industrial sites they use soil sterilant to avoid cost of vegetation control and lower fire hazard.

My point was that soil shaded from the sun is effectively sterilized. I guess the solar harvest isn't 100% but it certainly doesn't allow anything beyond nuisance vegetation.

[chuckChuck]

"My point was that soil shaded from the sun is effectively sterilized. I guess the solar harvest isn't 100% but it certainly doesn't allow anything beyond nuisance vegetation."

Happytales you are full of bullshit!

Spinach and sheep are showing us that solar farms aren't solely for green energy

University of Alberta team grows plants under solar panels in laboratory test

New work from the University of Alberta is looking to maximize the green energy that comes from the province's solar farms.

The practice is known as agrivoltaics — placing crops under solar panels, effectively doubling down on the efficiency of a booming solar energy sector. In this case, the crop is spinach.

We talk to a researcher at the U of A about a project aiming to meet our energy and food needs at the same time.

"In several ways it's a win-win," said soil scientist Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez, a professor in the U of A's faculty of agricultural, life and environmental sciences.

Solar farms require a significant amount of land, a challenge that has drawn criticism from the agricultural community and from some opponents of renewable energy initiatives.

EPCOR's kīsikāw pīsim solar farm covers 21 hectares in southwest Edmonton. On the other end of the scale is the Travers Solar Project in Lomond, Alta. It spreads across 1,350 hectares and is currently the largest in Canada.

The Travers Solar Project is the largest solar farm in Canada so far at 3,330 acres. (Carolyn Dunn/CBC)


The U of A pilot project, run by Hernandez Ramirez and research intern Camila Quiroz, was a 25-day laboratory test to see if solar farms can do double duty.

Research was conducted in a growth chamber that compared the growth of spinach in three conditions: under a thin solar panel, under a thick solar panel, and uncovered.

Spinach plants under solar panels consumed up to 17 per cent less water — and though their growth was slower, the plant's overall health wasn't affected.

And while they grew, the plants kept the area underneath the panels cool, which improved the solar panels' efficiency.

• Greek company to spearhead $1.7B solar energy project in Alberta ([url]https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mytilineos-solar-energy-project-alberta-1.6862891[/url])

• Simulations in agri-voltaics suggest Canadian farms could one day double as giant solar batteries ([url]https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/solar-panel-crops-agri-voltaics-canada-1.6832870[/url])

"There is a synergy here," said Hernandez Ramirez.

It's about "trying to use the space in a more efficient way," he said. "We are able to combine the two efforts, the challenge of energy transition and the challenge of food security." 'Growing food, fibres and fertilizer'


Spinach isn't the only thing that can thrive on a solar farm.

In 2012, Janna Greir and her husband Ryan started Whispering Cedars Ranch near Strathmore, Alta. Last year they moved 450 sheep to a graze at Strathmore Solar, a 130-hectare project run by Edmonton-based Capital Power.

The flock returned to the solar farm in May. The sheep will be there until October, offering affordable and effective lawn maintenance. In turn, the solar panels will give the animals shade while they graze.

"We're growing food, fibres and fertilizer underneath green energy. You don't get any better than that," Janna Greir said.

The American Solar Grazing Association was founded in 2018 to promote sheep grazing on solar installations in the United States. Sheep are used on many solar farms in Ontario, but the idea is relatively new to Alberta.

[Hamloc]

Was at an Alberta Grains meeting yesterday. There was a discussion about the AUC doing a survey on Power Plant construction related to the pause. It appears to me looking at the questions in the survey that at present there are no regulations as far as putting up a bond or insurance related to remediation of the sight at end of life. I am curious if anyone has an opinion on how this should be handled? Personally I think oil companies should have had to do this when they drilled a well so that if they go out of business the well sight is cleaned up. I can’t imagine the cost of cleaning up a quarter section of solar panels and related infrastructure if the company walked away.

As well I don’t understand why solar fields are not limited to brownfield locations that have no use due to previous industrial uses. Why cover good cultivated agricultural land? There is a gas plant sight 5 kms. from me that is in the final stages of cleanup. Perfectly flat, no vegetation, would work perfectly.

[Happytrails]

As well I don’t understand why solar fields are not limited to brownfield locations that have no use due to previous industrial uses. Why cover good cultivated agricultural land? There is a gas plant sight 5 kms. from me that is in the final stages of cleanup. Perfectly flat, no vegetation, would work perfectly.

I’ve never heard the justification for covering agricultural land with solar panels. It seems illogical to displace plants that absorb CO2, produce oxygen, and provide food.

[chuckChuck]

But covering agricultural land with oil wells and infrastructure is okay?

Oil and gas are covering lots of good agricultural land and you got nothing to say?