When one of the world’s largest solar power plants was installed near his home in Texas, sheepherder JR Howard never imagined it would become a lucrative opportunity for his sheep business.
Context. Despite being the U.S.’s top oil producer, Texas has made one of the nation’s strongest commitments to renewable energy, even surpassing California in solar production.
Milam County, located just outside Austin, is home to the fifth-largest solar photovoltaic farm in the world. SB Energy owns this facility, which spans 1,600 hectares of rural land and generates up to 900 MW of clean energy.
3,000 sheep. The shade of hundreds of thousands of solar panels not only supports the flourishing of previously threatened insects like bees but also promotes healthy grass growth, which requires regular maintenance.
Traditionally, the solar industry has relied on gas-powered lawn mowers to manage grass, which contradicts the core principle of renewable energy. However, SB Energy chose a more sustainable and traditional approach: a flock of 3,000 sheep.
Why sheep? Beyond economic benefits, sheep can reach difficult areas that lawn mowers can’t, such as small crevices with overgrown weeds. Moreover, sheep are content to graze regardless of the weather, paying no mind to either sun or rain.
Interestingly, the use of grazing animals on solar farms, like the one in Texas, isn’t an isolated case. It’s part of a broader trend in the agribusiness sector known as “solar grazing.”
An opportunity. Solar grazing has transformed Howard’s life. His sheep farming business has become industrialized, and he now manages 8,000 animals and employs 27 workers. The American Solar Grazing Association reports that this success story is echoed across 27 U.S. states, noting the establishment of 60 new agrivoltaic projects that use small herbivore grazing.
The solar industry represents a significant opportunity for sheep herders, especially as wool and traditional farming have declined. Agrivoltaics enables the use of sunny land for electricity generation, the maintenance of livestock such as goats and sheep, and the cultivation of food crops.
Image | AgriSolar Clearinghouse
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