RDP to pioneer solar-agriculture integration with $1.24M in funding
Red Deer Polytechnic is set to advance Alberta’s leadership in clean energy and sustainable agriculture following a $1.245 million funding announcement from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
The federal grant, delivered through NRCan’s Energy Innovation Program, will support the creation of a 125-kilowatt agrivoltaics demonstration unit at RDP’s Energy Innovation Centre.
The project, titled “Pioneering & Advancing Red Deer Polytechnic’s Data Sharing Alliance in Agrivoltaics,” will explore the dual use of land by integrating solar panels with active crop cultivation.
Innovative dual-use technology
“The Agrivoltaics demonstration unit at Red Deer Polytechnic combines renewable energy generation with agricultural productivity, addressing the dual challenges of reliable, consistent clean energy and food security,” said Dr. Tonya Wolfe, RDP’s associate vice president of applied research. “This approach maximizes land efficiency, reduces carbon emissions and enhances yields.”
The outdoor site will feature bi-facial solar panels, advanced tracking systems, and a 192-kilowatt-hour battery energy storage system.
Hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence will help optimize both energy generation and crop growth.
Training the next generation
The installation will become part of RDP’s Campus Energy Living Lab, offering applied research opportunities for students, industry partners, and community members.
Over five years, RDP aims to train 1,000 participants through hands-on experiences, field trips, and a new micro-credential in agrivoltaics.
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Data-driven insights
Performance data will be collected through RDP’s Data Sharing Alliance, an open-source platform already aggregating data from eight solar sites across Alberta.
Using AI and Industrial Internet of Things sensors, the system will provide real-time insights on energy production, soil moisture, and crop health, helping farmers and policymakers adopt agrivoltaics with reduced risk.
Industry and community partnerships
RDP is collaborating with industry partners, including Nextpower and CBI Solar, to ensure the project meets stakeholder needs.
The initiative also emphasizes Indigenous reconciliation and inclusion, with Sunchild and Montana First Nations participating as collaborators and advisors to support energy independence and food autonomy in rural communities.
Federal support for clean energy innovation
“Canada is scaling up clean energy while strengthening our electricity grid and responsibly growing our conventional energy industry,” said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, minister of energy and natural resources. “We are investing to provide reliable, affordable and clean power across the country that will propel economic growth and make Canada a low-risk, low-cost, low-carbon energy superpower.”
More information about RDP’s research and the Energy Innovation Centre is available at rdpolytech.ca/innovation.
**With information from RDP
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