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Climate‐Resilient Crop Production Under Agrivoltaics: Experimental Evaluation of Amaranth Production With Semi‐Transparent Photovoltaic Modules in Canada Under Changing Climates

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  • Uzair Jamil
  • Linda Alrayes
  • Joshua M. Pearce
  • Raymond Thomas

Abstract

Climate change threatens global food security, requiring climate‐smart systems that enhance both crop resilience and sustainable energy production. While agrivoltaics is recognized for combining solar power generation with agriculture, its effects on emerging stress‐tolerant crops such as amaranth remain largely unexplored, particularly under future climatic scenarios. This study evaluates the growth of amaranth, a highly nutritious and stress‐tolerant crop (heat, drought and shade), under 10 photovoltaic (PV) module types with varying transparencies, using controlled biomes simulating present (2025) and projected (2050) climates. Amaranth yields improved by more than 115% under several PV configurations (50%–80% transparent thin‐film, 25% wavelength selective PV, and 44% crystalline silicon (c‐Si)) in 2050 conditions, with only 7% of this increase attributable to climate change alone. Certain modules (69% c‐Si and 80% thin‐film) even outperformed unshaded controls. These findings highlight the potential of agrivoltaic‐amaranth systems to enhance food production while advancing clean energy and climate adaptation goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Uzair Jamil & Linda Alrayes & Joshua M. Pearce & Raymond Thomas, 2026. "Climate‐Resilient Crop Production Under Agrivoltaics: Experimental Evaluation of Amaranth Production With Semi‐Transparent Photovoltaic Modules in Canada Under Changing Climates," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 296-317, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s2:p:296-317
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70337
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