Social acceptance of agrivoltaics in Canada: Insights on public perceptions across technologies and provinces from a nationwide survey

Canada possesses significant potential to reduce fossil fuel dependence through agrivoltaics - systems that integrate agricultural production with solar photovoltaic energy generation. Previous agrivoltaic research has consistently demonstrated multiple benefits, including enhanced crop yields for a wide variety of food crops. Additionally, only 1% of Canada's agrivoltaic potential could eliminate the country's reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity. Despite this potential, agrivoltaic deployment remains limited due to regulatory, social, and informational barriers. Given that rural communities are central to both agriculture and renewable energy transitions, understanding public perceptions of agrivoltaics is critical for informed policy and implementation. This study investigates community attitudes toward agrivoltaics through a structured, nationwide survey addressing economic, environmental, and social dimensions of renewable energy acceptance. Results reveal that 85.8% of respondents support agrivoltaics, though preferences differed by configuration and province. Stilt-mounted agrivoltaics received the highest support at 92.6%, followed by greenhouse-integrated systems and solar grazing. Installations over perennial crops and trees were the least favored but still received over 80% approval. Regional differences were observed, with Nova Scotia (95.6%), Manitoba (93.0%), and British Columbia (92.9%) showing the strongest support and Yukon the lowest. Opposition primarily stemmed from resistance to change, aesthetic concerns, and land use issues, often linked to misinformation or lack of awareness. These findings underscore the importance of targeted education and outreach to promote agrivoltaic adoption and inform rural energy policy in support of Canada's sustainable energy transition. • This is among the first nationwide assessments of agrivoltaic acceptance in Canada. • 85.8% of Canadians support agrivoltaics, with stilt-mounted systems most favored. • Nova Scotia shows the highest support (95.6%), while Yukon shows the lowest. • Opposition stems from resistance to change, aesthetics, and lack of awareness. • Public education can address misinformation and enhance informed acceptance.