When JR Howard considered selling his small flock of 27 sheep, he was struggling to make a living from farming in Texas. Today, he manages 10,000 sheep that graze across 40,000 acres of large solar farms throughout the state. The change began when a developer built a solar project near his property. Instead of seeing the energy project as a threat to farming, Howard secured a contract to let his sheep graze on the site and control plant growth. As reported by the San Antonio Express-News, that first deal gave him the income and opportunity he needed to grow his business into one of the largest solar grazing operations in North America. This approach, known as agrivoltaics or solar grazing, has become a practical business option for renewable energy companies and livestock farmers facing rising land costs and ongoing drought.
Scaling up vegetation control
Large solar farms need short grass and low plant cover to stop weeds and bushes from shading solar panels or creating fire risks. Traditional mowing can be expensive. It uses heavy machinery that burns diesel and can throw up rocks that damage costly equipment. According to reporting by the San Antonio Express-News, solar developers found that using sheep was a cheaper, lower-risk option than sending in crews with tractors and mowers. The animals can eat grass around narrow support structures and beneath low panel edges that ordinary mowing machines cannot easily reach. “We were struggling with cotton and dug ourselves a hole with it. We were digging out of it with sheep, but at a much slower rate than we are now thanks to solar grazing,” Howard told Sheep Industry News. Through his company, Texas Solar Sheep, Howard provides flocks to control plant growth at several commercial solar sites. The business earns money in two ways. Energy companies pay for vegetation control, while livestock sales provide another source of income.
Commercial benefits for energy developers
For energy companies, using livestock at solar sites can lower long-term maintenance costs while also offering environmental benefits. According to a report by Canary Media on large solar projects in Texas, energy company Enel North America hired Howard to supply 6,000 sheep to graze across 10,000 acres of solar fields. Jesse Puckett, director of sustainability projects and community affairs at Enel North America, told Canary Media that the approach helps improve project profits while supporting the company’s sustainability goals. “Ultimately, we’re a business. This is one way that we can enhance the bottom line and build sustainability into our project,” Puckett explained to Canary Media. He added that sheep can move around the complex layouts beneath solar panels without damaging the equipment. Along with cutting mowing costs, grazing can improve soil quality. Data collected by Enel from earlier solar grazing projects showed that soil organic matter increased by 200 per cent over time. This was due to natural fertilization from the animals. Grazing also removed the carbon emissions linked to petrol-powered lawn mowers.
Lowering entry barriers for new farmers
Beyond helping maintain solar sites, solar grazing is changing how farmers access land in Texas. A census by the American Solar Grazing Association recorded more than 68,000 acres of solar installations being grazed across the state. Land prices are rising, and the average Texas farmer is approaching 60 years old. Buying enough land to raise a large flock has become too expensive for many livestock producers. As highlighted in an analysis of Texas agriculture, solar grazing gives farmers access to large areas of land without requiring them to pay high purchase prices or regular land rental fees. Instead of paying to use pasture, farmers receive payment for providing a vegetation control service. The shade from solar panels also creates a cooler environment. It helps the soil hold moisture and keeps sheep cooler during hot summer months, reducing the amount of water they need.
Industry growth and logistics
Managing thousands of sheep across widely spread industrial sites brings its own challenges. Farmers must look after the animals’ health, arrange transport between locations, and set up suitable watering systems across large areas. To meet growing demand, Howard has made sub-leasing deals with nearby ranchers. These ranchers supply extra sheep to help him meet large contracts with energy companies. “Your mindset really has to change to do this. Yes, you’re still managing a flock and managing grass, but you have to do things a little differently on these sites. You have to realize this is a service industry,” Howard stated to Sheep Industry News. Speaking to Canary Media, Howard described the rapid growth of solar installations across the American West as “the greatest opportunity for the sheep industry in my lifetime”. His company continues to expand its flocks to meet demand as new solar projects begin operating across Texas.
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