From Sheep Farms to Solar Farms

Recently, I interviewed Ryan Kelliher, the executive director of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) and VP, Renewable Solutions at Tradition Energy It was a particularly enjoyable conversation as it took me back to my early life on a sheep farm in County Mayo, Ireland. We were 5th generation sheep farmers with 200 head at our peak. Sheep farming is a tough life. Every spring was spent taking turns every couple of hours, night and day, with my father and brother to check whether our heavily pregnant ewes were giving birth or not. Every summer involved shearing, an intense and long day when our local shearer made rounds to various farms and sheared hundreds of sheep in a few hours.

We were the last farmers in our family, selling the farm in 2020, though I had left Ireland in 2006. Selling and moving away is also a common pattern for farming communities in the US, often due to various economic realities. This is one reason why combining sheep farming with solar development is so compelling.

Most importantly, farmers stand to gain significantly. On the one hand, for those looking to expand their flocks, more land is typically required, which often entails costly rentals that eat into margins. On the other side, solar developers have a very specific need to keep vegetation trimmed down. Combine these, and developers are increasingly paying farmers for maintenance of vegetation on solar farms – a previously substantial cost for developers that can now be converted into income for farmers. Imagine a farmer receiving up to $500 per acre, for instance, to graze a solar field. This, in turn, significantly enhances the profitability of their sheep, whether they are selling wool or meat. In fact, this development could even enable smaller farmers to compete with imports from global suppliers like Australia and New Zealand.

There are additional benefits for the farmer. On solar farms, sheep experience less heat stress due to the shade from the solar panels. This means farmers need to provide less water for their sheep compared to a regular field. This was even an issue for us in a milder climate like Ireland, where farmers can lose 1-2 sheep a year to heat stroke unless they have the right access to shade. Additionally, farmers can use the grass on their own land to produce hay for the winter while their sheep are grazing on the solar fields.

On the solar side, sheep grazing offers considerable advantages. Managing a solar field’s vegetation is often the most significant cost in a ground mount array. Budgeting for regular cuts can quickly become financially challenging. However, having sheep graze on the fields offers a practical, cost-effective solution. Plus, local farmers are inherently invested in the land's well-being, which can lead to better care and overall outcomes compared to sending out mowing groups to various locations.

Beyond financial and management benefits, the integration of sheep grazing with solar farms can also facilitate the planning process for solar projects. Developers often face skepticism when proposing large-scale changes in an area. Communities are particularly concerned about losing "prime" farmland. However, integrating familiar agricultural practices into these projects can enhance their acceptance within the community.

The potential for sheep farming, particularly in the realm of utility-scale agriculture, is immense due to the clear and mutually beneficial relationship between sheep grazing and solar farming. There is significant room for growth, particularly for existing sheep farmers looking to expand or even those involved in traditional monocropping or other livestock farming considering a switch to sheep farming.

Overall, the future of integrating solar farms and sheep grazing is very promising. It offers a great way to blend agriculture and renewable energy, serving as a win-win for farmers, solar developers, and rural communities. We are actively working on some data layers to help Paces users find suitable places for agro-voltaics with a particular emphasis on sheep grazing. Let us know if you are interested!