The more land becomes scarce, the more it becomes wise to practice multi-purpose use. Take, for example, solar farms, whose installations require large tracts of land. Traditionally, this is space dedicated solely to the solar park, and much of it is wasted. Agrivoltaics addresses this problem by transforming it into dual-use properties or co-located areas. The panels are installed as normal, but crops, livestock and pollinator habitats are located under the panels or between the rows of the installation. Solar panels installed on crops are used to great effect by Arizona farmworkers. Even simpler practices, such as allowing livestock to graze on vegetation beneath the panels, offer enormous benefits.
In fact, one of the most mature forms of agrivoltaics involves sheep grazing, or rather a new term called “solar shepherds”. Researchers from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business and professional shepherd Lara Costa Farm have released a new study evaluating the financial benefits of solar farming. They found that some related businesses raked in incomes as high as those of doctors, lawyers and senior engineers in countries like Canada. It should be noted that this practice is also growing in popularity and scale in the region, largely due to its benefits, but also thanks to organizations like Agrivoltaics Canada.
The study examined two solar farming business models commonly used in the region: raising ewes, or female ewes, and purchasing lambs at an annual auction. In both cases, farmers generated huge profits. A return on investment was found to be between 16 and 31% for breeding, compared to returns of 22 to 43% for auctions. In other words, solar shepherds could make a lot of money.
Solar shepherds can earn two to three times more than traditional shepherds
Looking at averages on Glassdoor, traditional shepherds earn between $42,000 and $79,000 per year, with an average salary of $58,000. Yet the study found that “solar shepherds” could expect to earn two to three times as much. The sheep benefit from a regular food supply at lower cost to the shepherds thanks to accelerated growth under the shade of the panels. These herders also do not need to rent land or pastures from farmers for their flocks to graze. During this time, they receive a bonus for vegetation management from solar farm owners.
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are challenges to consider that can impact profitability. Predators are a major concern that could easily reduce sheep numbers or harm flocks if protections are not in place. Parasites and diseases are equally a concern for grazing sheep. Perhaps the most costly is that to use grazing efficiently and at the same time control vegetation maintenance, fence and border boundaries must be adjusted to encourage sheep to move around – this is called rotational grazing. Additionally, sheep also need water, and installing water sources could pose complex challenges on top of that.
Actually, sheep just mow grass
If you consider the basics and what sheep actually do when they graze on the land, it’s nothing more than a natural form of lawn care. This is a common practice in areas with large expanses of flat land, where goats and sheep are used to maintain the land. They eat mostly grass and weeds and remove leaves from plants within reach. Using animals like sheep rather than machines or lawn mowers can also bring many benefits. This reduces fuel costs, lowers emissions and saves time: farmers or workers do not need to mow themselves. Meanwhile, animal droppings help enrich the soil and rejuvenate the soil for planting.
On solar farms, massive solar panel installations also provide additional protection for these sheep. They are shaded on hot days, and this shade also accelerates the growth of grass and greenery underneath, providing the sheep with a steady food supply. Additionally, maintaining grass provides cyclical benefits to solar and electricity production, as keeping solar panels free of weeds eliminates potential debris that could decrease electricity production and efficiency. Additionally, there is always a risk that mowing or weeding the area will kick up dust, dirt, and other debris that could damage or dirty the panels. As sheep graze regularly, it is not necessary to subject the panels to these risks.
Beyond all this, the production of green and clean energy is beneficial for everyone. In Tibet, solar panel farms practicing agrivoltaics are having an unexpected effect on local residents. Solar farms used in this way can even bring unexpected benefits to endangered species.
