Combining solar farms and sheep grazing pasture in the same area could massively increase land productivity, a study has found. Oregon State University scientists compared lamb growth and pasture production in
Sheep grazing in a field of solar panels is becoming an increasingly common sight as both farmers and solar developers are starting to experiment with co-locating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and agriculture.
When sheep can help solar energy. This may sound unusual, but grazing sheep are being used to prevent grass and other plants from damaging solar panels. This best practice is a great example of agrivoltaics:
So we turn to solar grazing: introducing livestock to solar installations in order to control plant growth, and to make the most of the land. Think of it as a symbiosis between solar arrays and livestock. Solar
contracts between sheep farmers and solar power plant operators result in diversified, taxable service income for Grazing Sheep on Solar Sites in New York State 2 • Animal health and
This approach integrates solar power production with agriculture, diversifying the land use and providing added economic value to the community. One solar farm operator has reported that sheep grazing can bring unique challenges,
The use of solar sites for livestock grazing is still in its infancy, but flocks of sheep are already grazing contentedly under and around glass panels in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New York. By welcoming the grazers, solar operators save money on land maintenance.
Our Solar farm was built with sheep grazing in mind, in fact it may have even been a planning condition. The owners don't pay me anything to keep sheep in there but then I don't feel I need to get paid twice, especially given what they pay in rent. I don't have sheep (bloody things, why would you ) so let someone have the free grazing.
Studies are also finding that vegetation planted for grazing under solar panels helps keep the panels cool, boosting energy production. Sheep feed from a mix of plants growing at the Nittany 1 solar array in central Pennsylvania. The plants were selected to support the sheep’s nutritional needs and attract pollinating insects. Lightsource BP
There are a few reasons sheep are the superior choice for grazing on solar farms. For one, they are shorter than cows and horses. They will also eat most kinds of forage, which helps keep plant growth at bay. Goats, on the other hand, will chew pretty much anything, which is a bit of a risk on solar farms.
Sheep, on the other hand, fit nicely under the panels, typically built 2–3 feet off the ground, and they keep their heads down for the business at hand. The panels provide shelter and shade. Studies are also finding that vegetation planted for grazing under solar panels helps keep the panels cool, boosting energy production.
“It’s a win-win.” Grazing sheep at solar installations is part of the growing movement known as agrivoltaics, a practice that finds agricultural uses for land covered by solar panels. Between 2012 and 2020, agrivoltaic solar capacity leapt from about five megawatts to 2,900 megawatts.
