From Megawatts to Manure: Inside Utility-Scale Solar with Wade Heuscher

cory young
Dec 23, 2025
3 min read

When you think of solar farms, you probably picture rows of shiny panels soaking up the sun — not sheep, chickens, robotic coops, and 80,000 bees.

But Wade Heuscher is flipping the script.

As the manager of two utility-scale solar farms in Alberta — one at 41 MW and another at a whopping 81 MW, Wade is pioneering new ways to optimize solar infrastructure, regenerate land, and challenge public perception

The Scale of Solar in Alberta

“At Strathmore, I have 110,000 panels… at Clydesdale, 189,726.” — Wade Heuscher

Together, these farms represent over 300,000 solar panels. Designed for a 25-year operational life, they’re built with the option to repower or reclaim the land after that term. Wade estimates that at the 25-year mark, solar panels will still operate at 90% capacity, but by 35 years, they may be economically unviable.

“We’ll reassess everything at 25 years. Either swap the panels, or run them until it’s no longer worth it.”

Farming Under the Panels — Literally

What makes these solar farms unique isn’t just their size. It’s what’s happening underneath the panels.

Wade’s Strathmore site is Canada’s first agrivoltaic solar farm, combining solar energy with agricultural practices:

1,600 sheep for vegetation control
30 KuneKune pigs, a grazing breed that won’t root up the land
120 chickens in a robotic coop by Ukko Robotics
A B-Cube housing 80,000 bees for biodiversity and honey production
A 10-year soil health study in partnership with Olds College

“We’ve gone from 400 sheep to 1,600 in three years… and we’re getting 331 lbs of honey in just a few months.”

This isn’t just novelty — it’s functional land use that improves soil, supports biodiversity, and counteracts criticism that solar farms waste agricultural land.

Battery Storage Barriers

Despite this innovation, there's one piece still missing: battery storage.

“It’s about $1.25 million per megawatt to store power… and with no incentives in Alberta, it’s a tough sell.”

Wade explains that while Ontario offered full battery systems in exchange for fixed-rate PPAs, Alberta has no such support — leaving utility operators to foot the bill themselves. This makes return-on-investment calculations difficult, even if the infrastructure is technically ready for storage.

For more on energy storage policy differences:

Canada Energy Regulator – Energy Storage in Canada

Aerial view of a commercial building featuring an extensive array of solar panels installed on its rooftop, harnessing renewable energy in a large-scale urban setting.

From Fields to Rooftops: Urban Opportunities

While Wade’s company, Capital Power, focuses on rural utility-scale solar, he sees massive potential in commercial rooftop systems:

“Why wouldn’t you cover a Walmart roof in panels? You’ve already got the real estate.

This opens the door for future expansion of solar in urban areas, leveraging rooftops to reduce grid demand — especially as municipal climate goals continue to ramp up.

Learn more:

NREL Guide to PV on Commercial Buildings

Solar Tech Isn’t Plug-and-Play (Especially Not the DC Side)

One of the biggest knowledge gaps in solar? DC power.

“It’s not like AC… the fusing works differently, and the danger is always live when the sun’s out.”

Wade notes that most construction is done by “solar installers” who take a 1–3 day course — but qualified electricians are critical for operations and maintenance. Many new techs don’t fully understand DC theory, inverter operation, or DC/AC conversion mechanics.

He recommends specialized training focused on:

Safe DC handling (1500V systems)
Inverter systems (like SunGrow 3,600 MW inverters)
Capacitance and waveform creation
Proper fusing and fault response in solar circuits

For techs and apprentices, consider:

CSA Solar Photovoltaic Systems Training

Solar Energy International – PV Systems Certificate

Changing Perceptions

From regenerative soil practices to community partnerships, Wade sees solar as a net benefit:

“We’re producing lamb, honey, eggs — and megawatts. We’re using every square inch of land for something valuable.”

What started as a patch of unproductive land is now a renewable energy hub, a biodiversity sanctuary, and a working farm.

The future of solar in Canada is not just about clean power — it’s about smart, multi-functional land use, technician education, and systems thinking

Final Thought

Whether you’re an electrician, builder, or just someone who thinks sheep and solar don’t mix — this conversation with Wade Huesher shows that utility-scale solar is more than big panels and big numbers. It’s innovation, grit, and good old-fashioned problem-solving