In rural farmland in the state of Texas, a group of chubby sheep can be seen grazing in the grass underneath hundreds of solar panels. They casually bump into each other as they go about their business of munching on grass.
According to the Associated Press, as large-scale solar power plants emerge across the United States, and especially on the plains of Texas, sheep have unexpectedly become key players in the thriving solar industry. In Milam County, just outside Austin, SB Energy operates the fifth-largest solar project in the United States, spanning 4,000 acres and capable of generating 900 megawatts of electricity.
So, how do they manage the weeds around the solar panels? With around 3,000 sheep, they are more adept at navigating narrow spaces than lawnmowers, and they can work diligently regardless of weather conditions – munching on grass while meeting the goals of renewable energy production.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by January 2024, the livestock inventory of sheep and lambs in Texas had decreased to 655,000, a 4% drop from the previous year.
Allowing animals to work in solar fields has also provided some assistance to the struggling sheep and wool markets in recent years. The use of land in solar fields, with ample sunlight and flat terrain, is ideal for livestock grazing.
Shepherd JR Howard unexpectedly found himself in the midst of Texas’ booming clean energy transformation. In 2021, he and his family began a contract with a solar farm with tens of thousands of solar modules, utilizing his sheep for grazing. What started as a small business has grown into a large operation with over 8,000 sheep and 26 employees.
Howard remarked, “This growth has been a bit crazy for us; it’s been great for me and my family.” He named his company “Texas Solar Sheep.”
Reid Redden, the Solar Vegetation Manager in Texas, expressed, “Solar grazing may be the biggest opportunity for the sheep industry in America for generations.” The response to solar grazing has been overwhelmingly positive.
As one of the largest solar sheep operators in Texas, Howard’s client base has grown beyond his expectations. He plans to add around 20 employees by the end of this year, nearly doubling his current workforce.
Agricultural photovoltaics are not a new concept. Solar farms occupy vast amounts of land that could otherwise be used for food production. Agricultural photovoltaics compensate for this by allowing both food crops and livestock grazing to coexist.
Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, Assistant Professor of Renewable System Ecology at Texas A&M University, stated that there are still many unknowns regarding the impacts of solar grazing. There is not enough research yet to understand the long-term environmental effects, such as the feasibility of soil for future agricultural use.