Joshua Pearce, a professor at Western’s department of electrical and computer engineering and the Ivey Business School, is advancing solar-powered, open-source technology. (Christopher Kindratsky)
Joshua Pearce, a professor at Western's department of electrical and computer engineering and the Ivey Business School, is advancing solar-powered, open-source technology. (Christopher Kindratsky) - Today's most complex challenges require an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, and Western University and Ivey Business School are uniquely positioned to advance robust solutions through a broad range of research strengths, such as developing renewable energy and open-source technologies to reduce the effects of climate change, and building smart cities to optimize energy, telecommunication and transportation networks. Photovoltaic system. (Pixabay) Harvesting sunshine is not in the job description of most Canadian farmers, but Western researchers want to change that. "Agrivoltaics," using solar panels to generate electricity on a farm still growing food, would not only contribute to more sustainable and cost-efficient farming operations, but potentially also create an additional revenue stream for farmers. They could sell surplus power into regional grids when the growing season is over, said Joshua Pearce , the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at the Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership & Innovation. "The primary benefits are higher crop yields and water savings because the panels cool and protect the crops," said Pearce, a professor at Western Engineering and Ivey Business School.
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