One-of-a kind cattle grazing with solar integration
One-of-a kind cattle grazing with solar integration
The Clearwater Solar Project is a proposed cattle-grazing and solar energy generation facility in the West Grey township in Grey County. Located at 81492 Normanby Bentinck Townline, Neustadt, Ontario, this project will take place on privately-owned property and have been developed with a strong focus on dual land use, to ensure that agricultural practices continue and thrive.
Agrivoltaics is the dual use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic energy generation. The proposed project will be a first-of-its-kind, cattle grazing site with solar energy production.
The Clearwater Solar Project has a capacity of 42.5 MW (42.5 MW AC / 49.61 MW DC), and will be submitted into the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Request for Proposals in the Long-Term 2 Procurement.
According to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), electricity demand in Ontario is set to grow by 75% by 2050. This rising demand is coupled with calls for grid decarbonization, leading the IESO to release several Requests for Proposals (RFP) to be procured over the following years. The upcoming Long-Term 2 RFP, with a minimum of 1000 MW capacity, will take place in October 2025, offering an invaluable opportunity to expand Ontario’s agrivoltaics industry.
Agrivoltaics consists of the combined use of agricultural land and solar panels. The competition for land space between two seemingly-opposing industries may actually result in a mutually beneficial outcome, with the potential for higher crop yields and more reliable energy generation.
The Clearwater Solar Project will be located at 281492 Normanby Bentinck Townline, Neustad, ON, within the municipality of West Grey in Grey County. It will have a DC capacity of 49.61 MW and an AC capacity of 42.5 MW, taking up a total of 212 acres.
We are the first project in Ontario to combine cattle grazing with photovoltaics at this scale. Clearwater Solar Project will rely on variable tilt access panels, with a tabletop mode for when cattle are grazing. The project calls for younger, smaller cattle and additional steel on the panels' mounting structure.
In creating the Clearwater Solar Project, we are working directly with a local farmer who will continue active agricultural operation on-site. By creating a diversified income stream for local landowners, agrivoltaics can keep landownership within your municipality
Construction will lead to a creation of jobs and an increased tax based for the municipality. On-site activity will briefly boost the revenues of local business.
Depending on agricultural conditions, the integration of photovoltaics can be greatly beneficial for agricultural activity and revive underused land.
Grazing cattle naturally consume the accumulating vegetation on solar farms, reducing maintenance costs.
Solar panels provide added shade for crops, reducing water losses due to evaporation and lowering the cost of production.
Land Lease
IESO Procurement
Engineering, Desing and Approvals
Commercial operation
Decomissioning
We are committed to ongoing consultation with residents, municipalities and Indigenous communities.
A Municipal Support Resolution is required to participate in the provincial procurement. To learn more, see the Association of Municipalities' guidebook.
On August 7th, 2025, we will be hosting an open house to showcase the proposal to the Hanover community and hear your thoughts. Come meet us at Durham Community Arena, located at 451 Saddler St W, Durham, between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Your presence we would deeply valued, and we hope to see your there!
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Please reach us at patrick@goodenergypartners.ca if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The IESO procurement and Ministry of Agriculture guidelines restrict solar development on Prime Agricultural Areas as defined in the Provincial Policy Statement. Hanover is the southernmost rural land located on the transmission line, before Prime Agricultural Areas take over. Moreover, the local transmission station supports the project's capacity and there is the unique opportunity to integrate cattle-grazing with solar.
PV systems are subject to third-party certification to ensure they comply with all of the required codes and standards.
Construction will last about 9 to 12 months.er
Our projects are designed to comply with the provincial regulations on noise and our equipment will be selected to ensure we meet noise limitations as outlined by the Ministry of the Environments, Environmental Noise Guideline – Stationary and Transportation Sources – Approval and Planning (NPC-300) for Class 3 receptors.
Agrivoltaics is the co-existence of a farming activity and solar generation facility. Good Energy Partners is committed to siting the solar project with cattle grazing. This project is a 'First of it's Kind' in Canada.
Solar facilities have an expected lifespan of 20 plus years with equipment replacement and repowering. At the time of decommissioning, the installed components will be removed and reused/recycled, where possible, and the site restored. All removal of equipment will be done per the applicable regulations and manufacturer recommendations. The below summarizes the decommissioning procedure that would be enacted at the end of project life for each component.
Solar PV – Disconnect all above-ground wirings. Remove all PV modules and support structures.
Medium Voltage (MV) Stations, Substation – Disconnect and remove all electrical equipment. Remove the inverter and associated equipment. Remove high-voltage substation transformer. Remove concrete foundations for MV Stations and substation components.
Access roads and other components – Consult with the property owner to determine if access roads should be left in place for their continued use. If roads are to be removed, the aggregate materials will be excavated by a backhoe/front-end loader, along with any underlying geotextile fabric. Compacted areas restored.
Once operating we will attend to site for scheduled maintenance about four times a year, excluding any unscheduled maintenance activities and any farming requirements.
Where a natural visual screen isn’t already present we will add a vegetative screen.
Yes, as part of our project costs we are committed to providing a community benefits contribution to the municipality on an annual basis. Additionally, we pay for all costs that the municipality incurs in evaluating and permitting our proposed project.
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