This summer, a solar field in Alberta will not only be generating about 40 megawatts of electricity each sunny day but also producing eggs, honey, meat and wool.
There are 110,000 solar panels on the 130 hectares of land, in addition to about 400 sheep, 40 pigs and 100 chickens. The bees are arriving soon.
The solar project, which is owned by Edmonton-based Capital Power and located near the town of Strathmore, is beginning to resemble a hobby farm. But for those involved, it’s an important opportunity to test new technology and farming techniques.
As demand for electricity grows every year, this site provides a glimpse into the future of the solar industry in Canada.
The chickens arrived this week and began laying eggs inside their new home, a mobile coop that slowly moves between the long rows of panels.