Published 5:30 am Saturday, January 24, 2026
By Brennan Phillips
A rendering of a proposed solar set-up at Double Barrel Vineyards in rural Oliver.
A unique merging of solar technology with crop protection at an Oliver winery has cleared another hurdle.
A press release issued Jan. 22 announced the approval from the Agricultural Land Commission for the implementation of the “agrivoltaics” system at Double Barrel Vineyards.
“This project is a real game-changer for agriculture in the Okanagan,” said Jesse Gill, the president and CEO of the Okanagan Hills Winery Group, which includes Double Barrel Vineyards.
The design of the project, based on what was provided to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen in 2025, would see adjustable solar panels on mobile racks that would be overtop the vines and would also include irrigation, and have attachments to support weeding, pruning, and fruit-picking.
The goal is provide protection for the vines, while at the same generating renewable energy for use at the vineyard.
“It’s a novel way to protect my grapes while keeping the land productive and resilient,” said Gill.
ALC approval was needed for the project due to the proposal covering covering 33 per cent of the 17-hectare property.
The RDOS board gave their unanimous support to the request to the ALC in May of 2025.
The press release notes that further approvals will still be needed from the RDOS and other regulartory bodies before it can be built.
The project is also intended as a demonstration and proof of concept for the region’s other vineyards and wineries for climate adaptation without losing production.
“I have worked with biologists, grape and soil specialists to adapt the technology specifically for vineyards in the Okanagan,” said technical consultant Claude Mindorff, WEST Partners Ltd. “Having successfully developed agrivoltaics for sheep grazing in Alberta, this project is different and provides enhancements and protection to existing vines.”
Following the RDOS board’s support on the ALC application, the Okanagan Hills Winery Group worked on outreach and research with Simon Fraser University.
The Rural Oliver Advisory Board Committee also held public meetings on the project.

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