Saskatchewan’s Solar Surge: Indigenous-Led Projects and Agrivoltaics Reshape the Prairies

Saskatchewan – a province that generates over 80% of its electricity from fossil fuels – is in the middle of a solar transformation that few outside the Prairies have noticed. SaskPower plans to add up to 3,000 MW of solar and wind generation by 2035, and the projects already in the pipeline feature something unique in Canadian energy: majority Indigenous ownership. Alongside the utility-scale buildout, Saskatchewan’s research community is pioneering agrivoltaics – dual-use solar farming that could unlock billions in additional agricultural revenue across the province’s vast farmland.

What Happened: SaskPower’s Solar Pipeline

Saskatchewan’s solar capacity is scaling rapidly through a series of major projects:

The Iyuhána Solar Project near Estevan will be Saskatchewan’s largest solar facility to date – 100 MW, enough to power approximately 25,000 homes. Construction began in 2025 with the facility expected online by December 2026.

When Southern Springs and Mino Giizis come online, SaskPower will have 318 MW of solar generation capacity – up from nearly zero a few years ago.

What sets Saskatchewan apart is the ownership structure. The Mino Giizis facility is a 50-50 partnership between Neoen Canada and a consortium of four First Nations: Cote First Nation, Key First Nation, Kinistin Saulteaux Nation, and Zagime Anishinabek. M-Squared Renewables – a partnership between Meadow Lake Tribal Council and Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation – holds 51% ownership of multiple projects, the largest Indigenous ownership stake for projects of this size in the province.

The federal government backed this with a $33 million investment in Indigenous-owned solar in Saskatchewan.

The Agrivoltaics Opportunity: Solar Panels Above, Crops Below

Saskatchewan contains approximately 40% of Canada’s farmland. A peer-reviewed study from the University of Saskatchewan found that applying agrivoltaic systems to the province’s wheat farmland and pastureland could generate billions of dollars in additional annual agricultural revenue while maintaining crop production.

The numbers are striking: to offset Saskatchewan’s entire fossil-fuel electricity generation, only 0.17% of farmland would need agrivoltaic installations using single-axis tracking systems. That’s a fraction of the province’s agricultural land producing both food and electricity simultaneously.

Agrivoltaics works by mounting solar panels at heights that allow farming underneath or between rows. Different configurations suit different crops:

• Elevated panels (3-4m height): Suitable for grazing livestock, hay production, and shade-tolerant crops
• Vertical bifacial panels: Allow full-width farming between rows, with panels capturing morning and evening sun from both sides
• Row spacing configurations: Standard crop equipment can pass between panel rows

For Saskatchewan farmers already facing rising input costs and volatile commodity prices, agrivoltaics offers a second revenue stream from the same land. A farmer with 160 acres of marginal land could generate $15,000–$25,000 annually from a solar installation while continuing to use the land for grazing or hay.

Why This Matters for Saskatchewan Residents

For farmers: Agrivoltaics is not yet widespread in Saskatchewan, but the research is there and the economics work – especially with the federal Clean Technology ITC covering 30% of commercial solar costs. Watch for pilot projects in the next 2-3 years.

For homeowners: SaskPower’s Net Metering program allows residential customers to generate solar power and receive credits. As the province’s grid adds more renewable capacity, political support for residential solar incentives is likely to grow.

For Indigenous communities: The ownership models being established now – 50% and 51% Indigenous stakes in utility-scale projects – create long-term revenue streams and energy sovereignty. These aren’t token partnerships; they’re majority ownership positions generating decades of income.

What Happens Next

• Late 2026: Iyuhána Solar (100 MW) expected online near Estevan
• Late 2027: Southern Springs Solar (100 MW) operational
• 2028: Mino Giizis Solar operational with First Nations consortium
• By 2035: SaskPower targeting 3,000 MW combined solar and wind

Saskatchewan’s solar irradiance – 5.0 to 5.5 peak sun hours daily in the south – is comparable to Alberta’s and among the best in Canada. The land is flat, cheap, and abundant. The constraint has been political will and grid infrastructure, not solar resource. Both are now moving.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. If you’re a farmer: Explore agrivoltaics through the Saskatchewan Renewable Energy Coalition and watch for upcoming pilot programs. The CT ITC covers 30% of commercial solar capital costs.
2. If you’re a homeowner: Contact SaskPower about net metering eligibility. Residential solar in Saskatchewan pays back in 10–14 years at current rates, and that improves as rates rise.
3. Check our Saskatchewan Solar Guide for provincial incentives and installer listings.