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A study into the benefits of combining solar energy with sheep grazing shows that sheep grazing in the shade of photovoltaic modules can produce higher quality wool than those grazing on traditional farm properties.
Renewable energy developer Lightsource bp says a study into the quality of wool produced by sheep grazing among the panels at its 174MW Wellington Solar Farm in New South Wales, Australia, highlights the potential for solar farms to complement agriculture without compromising productivity.
The Wellington project, situated on 320 hectares of grazing farmland about 50km south-east of Dubbo city, has been home to a flock of about 1,700 Merino sheep for the past three years.
A study, carried out by the environmental services company EMM Consulting in collaboration with the agro-industrial group Elders Rural Services, has compared the wool of sheep grazing within solar installations with that of sheep grazing on traditional pastures.
“The results suggest that co-locating solar farming with sheep grazing does not negatively affect wool production, even under pre-existing high-quality standards,” Lightsource bp said in a statement. “Some parameters even indicate improved wool quality, although further long-term measurements are required to obtain conclusive benefits.”
Emilien Simonot, head of agrivoltaics at Lightsource bp, said the results showed that it was possible to combine a renewable energy project with traditional livestock management techniques to produce benefits for both companies.
“These results are very encouraging and highlight the potential of solar farms to complement agricultural practices,” he said. “By integrating sheep farming with solar energy production, we can achieve the dual benefit of sustainable energy along with agricultural yield.”
Farmer Tony Inder said the benefits of raising his sheep under solar panels have been far greater than he had anticipated.
“We have found that any amount of rainfall is beneficial because the panels have no gutter effect, so growth is continuous,” he explains. “It has also increased stocking rate and wool quality, particularly, I think, because the variable rainfall means our sheep switch from lush feeding to dry grass to standing hay up to six times a year, meaning there can be interruptions in wool production and tensile strength can be somewhat lower.”
According to Inder, tests show that the fleece from his sheep grazing between panels is 20% superior to the regular product, as measured by wool growth, weight and microns (the diameter of the fibre, considered the most important characteristic of the fibre).
Grazing sheep between the rows of solar modules also benefits the project owner, as Lightsource bp only has to mow the solar farm twice a year.
Brendan Clarke, acting director of environmental planning for Australia and New Zealand at Lightsource bp, said the study showed that traditional agricultural industries could be combined with new renewable sectors to maximise land use.
“Finding ways for agriculture and clean energy to work together is crucial to a more sustainable future,” he said. “The promising results of this study indicate that we are on the right track, and working closely with farmers to increase our knowledge in this field is paramount.” |
