Agrivoltaics in Quebec: When Solar Protects Agriculture

Agrivoltaics means installing solar panels above crops. Not to replace agriculture, but to protect it. Protection against hail and frost, lower energy bills for greenhouses, and additional income for farmers. The core principle is simple: agriculture always comes first.

In this episode, we sit down with Fabien Dauzou, coordinator of the 3IT Energy Platform at Université de Sherbrooke. He leads the largest solar park dedicated to applied research in Canada and supports Quebec's first agrivoltaic projects.

We discuss what agrivoltaics actually is (and what it isn't), which crops are best suited for it such as grapevines, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, what's already happening in the rest of the world, the pilot projects underway in Quebec, and the current barriers: no legal framework, financing still being structured, and Hydro-Québec grid connection challenges.

One question from Fabien captures the whole issue: "What is the price of food resilience?"

Agrivoltaics could help protect and enhance its value. To find out how, watch the full episode.

About the guest:

‍Fabien Dauzou, Coordinator, 3IT Energy Platform, Université de Sherbrooke. Engineer from Grenoble INP, 14+ years of experience in the solar industry (Switzerland, Asia, Quebec).

‍

Watch / Listen to the episode

🎥 YouTube : https://youtu.be/Wfc5wDs8e8o

🎧 Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/7ciXV3gyR6trBblCJVTCbo?si=VLii6BzyRHyC0a8Qhwckcg

🍎 Apple Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-warrior-fighting-the-dark-side/id1855667968

▶️ Youtube Music : https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfj3pBPAdQrrdDtJNyoyhbZJY4-8xvSDD&si=--ZQitb_CnxR1lHE

‍