While seeking the benefits of technology, humanity hopes that surrounding life can coexist with it. Recently, some American clean energy companies have discovered remarkable models.
They have utilized grazing sheep to keep solar panels free from “weeds”, providing food for the sheep to save on mowing costs, while allowing the flock to stand under the solar panels for shade, avoiding the summer heat; additionally, there are models for cage fish farming at offshore wind farms…
The model of sheep grazing + solar energy is thriving in the US and spreading to Europe. (Photo: AFP).
A New Model for a New Era
The solar energy sector in the US is rapidly growing, with nearly 30 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity expected to be added this year, capable of powering tens of millions of households. However, this electricity comes at the cost of vast areas of land that cannot be farmed. Consequently, there is concern that the world is currently facing water and food shortages. If large areas of land are covered by buildings, roads, or solar panels, there may not be enough land left for farming and grazing in the future.
The latest report from the non-profit American Farmland Trust estimates that an astounding 18.4 million acres of agricultural land will be lost in the US from 2016 to 2040, an area nearly equivalent to the size of South Carolina.
However, more farmers worldwide are collaborating with new energy companies, hoping that the “grazing + solar energy” method can improve the condition of agricultural land that is only used for solar panels.
This image shows the effectiveness of the model: weeds are cleared and sheep seek shade under the solar panels. (Photo: Sohu).
Over 6,000 sheep are being grazed at eight solar power plants in Texas. This initiative by the renewable energy company Enel North America, in collaboration with Texas Solar Sheep LLC, aims to create the largest solar-powered livestock grazing agreement in US history. These sheep not only serve as “wool gardeners” across more than 10,100 acres (4,087 hectares) but also play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem and enhancing energy production efficiency.
The sheep will be allowed to roam in areas with solar panels, where they can lie in the shade on hot days. They reduce the need for herbicides and fossil fuel-powered mowers. This is not only environmentally beneficial but also helps energy companies save costs. The sheep’s manure can serve as fertilizer for the soil, improving soil quality and the ecosystem. Additionally, sheep can carry wildflower seeds in their wool and hoof prints, contributing to the regeneration of natural vegetation.
In fact, Enel North America has tested this model in Minnesota, with results showing that soil quality at some sites improved by over 200% in terms of organic matter. This demonstrates that sheep grazing supports energy production while providing numerous benefits to the local ecosystem.
Marcus Krembs, Director of External Affairs and Sustainability at Enel North America, stated: “By prioritizing sheep grazing for land management, we demonstrate that solar energy and agriculture can coexist while ensuring optimal performance of our solar facilities.” He also emphasized that this commitment not only helps protect the environment but also supports the local economy by creating new job opportunities and ecosystem services.
Sheep grazing in solar energy areas helps save costs.
Agri-solar, a term used to refer to land use for both solar energy and agriculture, is becoming increasingly popular. Kevin Richardson, Community Relations Director at the American Solar Grazing Association, stated: “Grazing livestock in solar energy areas is becoming a leading trend in agri-solar, and we are seeing more leaders in the solar energy sector investing in long-term partnerships with farmers and creating new opportunities for American agriculture.”
Grazing sheep in solar energy areas not only saves costs but also offers many other benefits. According to Jesse Puckett, Director of Sustainable Development Projects and Community Issues at Enel, allowing sheep to graze is cheaper and less risky than mowing with machines. Sheep do not chew on electrical wires like goats and do not damage solar panels, helping maintain safety and efficiency for the system. Puckett shared: “This helps us save money. It’s an effective way to do this. It’s very good for the environment, but also helps our profits. So, this is a win-win solution for us.”
Puckett also emphasized that the solar energy sector has the opportunity to do things differently and better, contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection.
A sketch of a fish farming + wind energy farm. (Photo: Sohu).
Grazing + Solar Energy Brings Hope to Farmers
Moreover, this approach can provide income and renewed hope for the struggling sheep meat industry and sheep farmers in the US.
According to statistics from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), the number of sheep slaughtered and demand is gradually declining each year. Currently, only over 2 million sheep are slaughtered annually. Although demand for lamb meat among Jewish communities during festivals and other communities is increasing, these demands are still insufficient for sheep farmers to sustain their livelihoods.
Additionally, USDA reports indicate that since the 1960s, per capita consumption of lamb meat in the US has decreased from nearly 5 pounds to just about 1 pound per year. This decline is due to more Americans accepting less lamb meat and competition from other meats such as poultry, pork, and beef, along with the low prices of lamb meat from Australia and New Zealand, making it more challenging for US sheep farmers.
Josie Trople, 27, and her husband Arlo Hark operate the Cannon Valley Graziers grazing area in Minnesota. She told Bloomberg that choosing to collaborate with solar energy companies is to preserve their business, as grazing operations are notoriously low-margin.
She also mentioned that their family business previously owned more than 100 Rambouillet sheep, but the meat and wool sales were insufficient to sustain and maintain their assets. To continue this work, substantial changes were necessary.
According to an ongoing study at Cornell University, using sheep instead of diesel-powered mowers can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sheep also provide manure, helping improve soil fertility, as well as the ability to extract more carbon from the atmosphere and store it in roots.
While the grazing + solar energy model is welcomed, it still faces barriers to adoption, such as purchasing insurance as required by solar developers and costs associated with transporting the flock. In 2018, the US established the Solar Grazing Association, the first organization to provide solar grazing resources, including sample contracts and mapping tools connecting farmers with solar energy companies. The association is currently developing a franchise model that allows grazing animals to share insurance and other resources with solar power plants.
There are now 470 members of the Association across the US, and the area dedicated to solar grazing is booming. In New York, approximately 79 acres were dedicated in 2018, which increased to 900 acres by 2020.
A farmer participating in the livestock grazing + solar energy model stated: “There are many benefits to cooperating for sheep grazing + solar energy. We think about this ourselves and see it as the future of agriculture.”
This model utilizes offshore wind power generation devices and nearby cages for fish or algae farming. (Photo: Sohu).
The “Fish Farming + Offshore Wind Power” Model Gaining Global Traction
Moreover, the model of power generation coexisting with living organisms is emerging across the oceans. This approach utilizes offshore wind turbines alongside nearby cages for fish or algae farming.
Recently, some scientists have proposed establishing a cage farming system within the boundaries of offshore wind farms, provided it does not interfere with the protection and operation of these wind sites. They argue that integrating offshore wind energy with traditional fishing practices within a one-square-kilometer area could help fishermen transition to sustainable fishing practices.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, as of 2017, approximately 34% of global marine fish stocks are being depleted too rapidly, preventing species from recovering and reproducing. This is a significant increase from just a 10% reduction in stocks reported in 1974.
Therefore, many believe that the “industrialization of marine aquaculture” could mitigate the depletion of freshwater resources on land and the over-exploitation of marine fish stocks, benefiting the maintenance of marine ecological balance and ensuring a sufficient supply of fish for human consumption.
Additionally, the deep-sea locations of offshore farms are seen as advantageous, as they avoid coastal erosion caused by fish farms situated in bays and river mouths, while also minimizing the risk of overfishing natural fish populations.
Furthermore, a 2019 study that collected water samples near underwater fish cages off the coast of Panama concluded that offshore farms could cause relatively little pollution if situated appropriately. A prior study comparing over 15,000 bluefin tuna nearshore and offshore found that offshore-farmed bluefin tuna had lower mortality rates and were less susceptible to sea lice compared to those farmed closer to shore.
