Raising sheep at the Northwest Solar Power Generation Base

Should solar developers graze sheep?

Enel North America, a renewable energy company based in Massachusetts, was among the first solar developers to ask them about grazing sheep to manage the native grasses planted at their facility in Haskell County. “It just makes sense,” Landon Kerby said.

Do agrivoltaic sheep graze in solar panels?

Meanwhile, researchers at Oregon State University have determined that sheep reared in agrivoltaic settings prefer to graze in the shade of solar panels. The study also found that, despite finding less forage in solar pastures, lamb production did not differ from lambs grazed in open fields.

Can solar grazing help farmers feed their flocks?

A herd of sheep move between rows of photovoltaic panels at the Azure Sky solar project in Haskell County, Tex. Solar grazing helps farmers feed their flocks while the expanding solar industry provides more clean energy to the grid.

Why do sheep walk between photovoltaic panels at Azure Sky?

Sheep walk between rows of photovoltaic panels at Azure Sky. Shade under the panels enhances the quality and quantity of forage while providing relief from heat for the livestock. Editing by Bronwen Latimer.

Is grazing cattle under solar panels a good idea?

There is growing interest in grazing cattle underneath solar panels. This year, the Energy Department launched the Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize, providing millions of dollars for research around solar development and cattle grazing.

Will agrivoltaics succeed?

“For those that want agrivoltaics to succeed, we want to see research and incentives for solar firms to make those investments to accommodate things like solar grazing,” said Lexie Hain, director of agrivoltaics and land management at Lightsource bp and founder of the American Solar Grazing Association.