‘Agrivoltaics’ can both power AI data centres and increase food production

AI’s rapid growth is overwhelming electricity systems and causing an energy crisis, with data centers consuming a lot of energy and predicted to double global electricity demand by 2030.
Solar technology, the cheapest source of energy in history, is also competing for agricultural land, leading to public protests.
A study shows “agrivoltaics” as a promising solution, using land for both food production and solar electricity generation.
Vertical solar fences and single axis tracker solar arrays allow for electricity generation and farming with minimal impact on yield.
Agrivoltaics can generate a beneficial microclimate, improving crop yield and in some cases doubling it compared to open fields.
Agrivoltaic systems use very little farmland (like 0.5% in Canada), could meet the US AI energy demand, and even eliminate the need for fossil fuels in the entire country.
Agrivoltaics offers a dual revenue stream from agriculture produce and solar electricity, with a rapidly expanding market exceeding US$14 billion globally.
Outdated regulations in regions like Ontario, Canada, limit agrivoltaic developments, potentially stifling job creation, food security, and energy production improvements. Updating these regulations could facilitate large-scale capital investments and boost agricultural and solar energy outputs.