Are sheep better than goats on solar farms?

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.

Are sheep better suited for solar?

The practice is also in use in parts of Canada, the UK, France, Japan, Australia and South America, it said. In some instances, sheep are better suited to maneuver around solar panels than conventional mowers and help reduce carbon emissions. For the solar companies, the tie-up brings potential cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint.

Can sheep graze around solar panels?

Sheep graze along arrays of solar panels in Hammond, Minnesota. ‘Solar grazing’ around panels is providing a lifeline to the US shepherding sector as clean energy expands. Stung by high fuel costs and a labor squeeze, some clean energy companies are turning to an unlikely ally — flocks of sheep — to keep their solar panels out of the shade.

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.

What is a new dawn for sheep?

The project is called “A New Dawn for Shepherds: Grazing Sheep Under Utility-Scale Solar Arrays.” Schmit is partnering with various farmers, solar industry professionals, and the ASGA, which is a nonprofit organization that connects sheep farmers with solar producers.

What is solar grazing & agrivoltaics?

“Agrivoltaics,” or the dual use of land for solar power and agriculture, is a way for both industries to utilize the same ground. The American Solar Grazing Association, founded in 2018, estimates about 5,000 sheep are currently maintaining US solar sites.