University of Alberta team grows plants under solar panels in laboratory test New work from the University of Alberta is looking to maximize the green energy that comes from the province’s solar farms. The practice is known as agrivoltaics — placing crops under solar panels, effectively doubling down on the efficiency of a booming solar energy sector. In this case, the crop is spinach. “In several ways it’s a win-win,” said soil scientist Guillermo Hernandez Ramirez, a professor in the U of A’s faculty of  agricultural, life and environmental sciences. SolarRead more