Solar energy production and sheep, what do they have to do with each other? We live in a world where the need for clean energy is paramount, but there are challenges to efficiently use natural resources. What it’s most common to see is solar panels spread throughout lands that aren’t used. However, Australia has come up with an innovative and promising idea, combining sheep farming and generation of solar energy, known as agro-voltaics. This process is beneficial for both, sheep and solar energy.

You might not see the reason behind sheep and solar energy, but there is a logical reason behind it. So, let’s start with the article!

Australian new and innovative study

Most countries are developing new ways of producing clean energy in the most innovative way possible, but we’ll see if you think Australia has done it the best…

They thought about combining sheep with solar energy production in a way they can benefit from each other. How was this possible? As part of agro-voltaics – the study on how to use the land used for agriculture or ranching to generate renewable energy – 1,700 Merino sheep were allowed to have access to the surroundings of solar panels and below them.

How did they do it?

Scientists divided the sheep into two groups: one grazing in lands with no solar panels and the other group could move wherever they want throughout the solar panels of a solar farm in Wellington, New South Wales.

If you are very curious about who installed the solar panels for the study, it was the company Lightsourcebp with the collaboration of EMM Consulting and Elders Rural Services.

Positive results

This study was very encouraging because the sheep that were around the solar panels were healthier and produced wool of much higher quality. The reason behind this was the shade of solar panels, which protects the sheep from the heavy heat and rain. These animals were more comfortable since they were allowed to live in lands with solar panels.

The sheep and solar panels combination is good for environment

This shade is very important to keep the soil moisture and, as a consequence, makes grass growth in these areas way better. This grass is more nutritious, that’s why these sheep’ wool is of a higher quality.

Including a good quality diet in your life is important in every case, have you noticed it?

Experts take on this combination

Lightsourcebp’s Director of Environmental Planning for Australia and New Zealand, Brendan Clarke, has confirmed the results from this sheep and solar panels combination show how promising this process is. Also, he stated the importance of working along with farmers to learn how to make this process more efficient.

Unique idea…

Not really, it’s true that this study has been the largest in history when it comes to the agro-voltaics context, but France had already done some similar studies. Véronique Deiss, a researcher from the INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (France)) commented on the results from the studies done in her country and she said they were very similar to the ones in Australia. The sheep in France live in better temperature conditions and the grass they ate was high quality too, so this means the beneficial aspects seen in Australia don’t have to do with climate or region.

I mean, this way of producing clean energy is key because of the lack of pollution emitted to our planet Earth, but it is also a plus for sheep. Countries being greener and helping sheep too, we might be going on the right track. What do you think about this idea?