{"id":351217,"date":"2023-06-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/news\/six-reasons-why-solar-farms-make-great-grazing\/"},"modified":"2024-05-01T10:24:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T10:24:50","slug":"six-reasons-why-solar-farms-make-great-grazing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/six-reasons-why-solar-farms-make-great-grazing\/","title":{"rendered":"Six reasons why solar farms make great grazing"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"block-page-title bg-color-white\">\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <h1 class=\"fg-color-gradient\">Six reasons why solar farms make great grazing <\/h1>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n  \n\n\n<section class=\"banner-single position-relative\">\n  <div class=\"container-fluid\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12 px-0\">\n                <div class=\"position-relative w-100 h-100 aspect-ratio-banner object-fit-cover\">\n          <picture>\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27131643\/solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-417-234-450x252.png, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27131643\/solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-417-234-1000x561.png 2x\"\n                          media=\"(max-width: 575px)\">\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner-1000x400.png, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner-1920x768.png 2x\"\n                          media=\"(min-width: 576px) and (max-width: 991px)\">\n                    <source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner.png, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner.png 2x\"\n                          media=\"(min-width: 992px)\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner.png\" alt=\"\"\n                       srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/06\/27130953\/solar-grazing-banner.png 2x\"\n                       sizes=\"auto, 100vw\"\n                       class=\"position-absolute w-100 h-100 left-0 top-0 object-fit-cover\"\n                       width=\"2000\"\n                       height=\"800\">\n                <\/picture>\n        <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"text align block_5d9a2081dc01ca54fe10dae88fbc5f88 block bg-color-white position-relative z-1 overflow-hidden\">\n    <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  \n  <div class=\"container \">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n        <span class=\"rich-text standard-text fg-color-navy\">\n          <p>Sheep grazing on solar farms provides economic and environmental benefits for all partners involved, from the solar industry to the farmer.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no need to choose between using land for farming or for energy. Agrivoltaics, the combination of agriculture and solar electricity generation, where crops are grown and livestock raised underneath and alongside solar panels, means we can have the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst the solar industry collaborates with scientists and farmers on how to grow fruit, vegetables and other staple crops in fields with solar panels, sheep grazing has proved to be one of the most common solutions. This combination not only offers numerous environmental advantages but also presents <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/sheep-solar-industry-panel-fields-11662390795\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an opportunity for farmers, landowners and the solar industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dzMRY9onGQY?si=zwtAeB7_z5pxSQoK\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s dive into six reasons why sheep grazing and solar are the perfect partnership:<\/p>\n<h3>A farmer can keep their flock<\/h3>\n<p>Sheep are the perfect height to fit under and around solar panels and can be stocked at the same density as they would be on a field without any panels. That\u2019s not the case for much bigger cows or horses. That means farmers can keep their flock, or even increase its size.<\/p>\n<h3>Sheep are natural lawn mowers<\/h3>\n<p>Maintaining vegetation around solar panels is crucial. Sheep grazing provides a natural and cost-effective solution that goes back centuries. Sheep also have just the right appetite for grass and weeds. The sheep efficiently keep the grass and weeds in check, reducing the need for time-consuming, costly and environmentally unfriendly manual, chemical or mechanical methods. This ensures clear access to sunlight, allowing solar panels to operate at their maximum efficiency.<\/p>\n<h3>Happier and healthier animals<\/h3>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0168159122002593\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research study<\/a> found that the sheep that had access to a field with solar panels were overall happier and healthier than those that didn\u2019t. The solar panels helped keep them cool and they spent more time sheltering, resting and grazing. They also spent less time standing idle, which can be an indicator of poor animal welfare. These benefits may even result in more and better quality wool. At least according to anecdotal evidence from an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/rural\/2022-05-30\/solar-farm-grazing-sheep-agriculture-renewable-energy-review\/101097364\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Australian trial<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Enhanced biodiversity<\/h3>\n<p>As sheep move and graze they trample their own waste and old plant matter into the earth. This encourages the growth of diverse plant species by acting as a natural fertilizer. Sheep dung might also include <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/j.1654-109X.2009.01058.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">undigested plant seeds<\/a>, or seeds can also be <a href=\"https:\/\/esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1890\/1540-9295%282006%29004%5B0244%3AELSDVS%5D2.0.CO%3B2#:~:text=Sheep%27s%20wool%20contains%20large%20numbers,(Manzano%20and%20Malo%20unpublished).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">carried in the wool<\/a>. As the sheep move about, they distribute the seeds across a wider area. A thriving, diverse flora provides a richer habitat for various insects, birds, and small mammals, fostering a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem that benefits both the environment and local wildlife.<\/p>\n<h3>Soil health<\/h3>\n<p>As mentioned, sheep dung acts as a natural fertilizer that rejuvenates the soil and enhances biodiversity. Condensation and rain run-off can also <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0203256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">increase vegetation<\/a> under solar panels by providing a source of irrigation, especially in drier periods. That\u2019s more food for sheep. Sites with episodic grazing also showed <a href=\"https:\/\/essopenarchive.org\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/essoar.10510141.1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">better carbon storage and nutrient density in the soil<\/a>. In collaboration with researchers from Shippensburg University it is one of the topics we are looking at on our own \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/solar-farm-living-laboratory-lightsource-bps-nittany-solar-projects-in-pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">living laboratory<\/a>\u2019 at the Lightsource bp Nittany Solar Farm in Pennsylvania, USA.<\/p>\n<h3>Economic benefits for farmers and landowners<\/h3>\n<p>For farmers that own the land solar farms are built on, sheep grazing can provide a much-needed extra income. In fact, it can be an <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/agrivoltaics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">economic \u2018triple-win\u2019<\/a>, generating income from three potential revenue streams: leasing out land for solar panel installation, grazing contracts with the solar operators, and the agricultural products produced by the sheep such as wool, dairy or meat. This diversification of income not only improves the financial viability of solar farm projects but farms and farmers also.<\/p>\n<p>Sheep grazing on solar farms is a great example of dual land use. One that provides both food (for the sheep and for us) and fuel (solar energy), through clean energy, healthy land and a boost for family farms.<\/p>\n<h4>Find out more<\/h4>\n<p>To find out more, visit our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/sustainability\/environment\/\">environmental stewardship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n        <\/span>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"multi-column-cards align block_4017110de3dc55d3becd41f1b15b7f6f block bg-color-white\">\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-12\">\n                <h3 class=\"mb-35\">Latest news<\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"row\">\n                        <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/beyond-renewable-energy-lightsource-bps-commitment-to-biodiversity-and-farming\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.jpg 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x279.jpg 450w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-767x475.jpg 767w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195.jpg 1292w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01141513\/GR-solar-grazing-banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"743\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">01 Sep, 2025<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/beyond-renewable-energy-lightsource-bps-commitment-to-biodiversity-and-farming\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">Beyond renewable energy: Lightsource bp\u2019s commitment to biodiversity and farming<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">The renewable energy sector, particularly solar energy, is playing a critical role in addressing biodiversity loss and improving ecosystems.<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/beyond-renewable-energy-lightsource-bps-commitment-to-biodiversity-and-farming\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/solarpower-europe-launches-global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2025-2029\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.jpg 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x279.jpg 450w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-767x475.jpg 767w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195.jpg 1292w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/30145943\/GR-Outlook-Report-banner-1-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"743\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">30 Jun, 2025<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/solarpower-europe-launches-global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2025-2029\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">SolarPower Europe launches Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029\u202f<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">Read our summary of SolarPower Europe\u2019s Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025-2029.\u202f<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/solarpower-europe-launches-global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2025-2029\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 mb-30\">\n  <div class=\"multi-column-cards__image-container h-300px h-lg-250px\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/lightsource-bp-publishes-2024-sustainability-report\/\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-100\">\n      <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1024x634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-80x50.jpg 80w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-450x279.jpg 450w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-767x475.jpg 767w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1000x619.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195.jpg 1292w\" sizes=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.lightsourcebp.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/27104220\/GLB-Sustainability-Report-2024-Banner-aspect-ratio-315-195-1200x743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"743\" class=\"w-100 h-100 object-fit-cover\"><\/picture>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n      <p class=\"mt-20 mb-10 font-size-paragraph-small\">29 May, 2025<\/p>\n    <a class=\"text-decoration-none text-decoration-sm-underline-hover\" href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/lightsource-bp-publishes-2024-sustainability-report\/\">\n    <h5 class=\"mb-15 fg-color-navy\">Lightsource bp publishes 2024 Sustainability Report\u00a0\u00a0<\/h5>\n  <\/a>\n      <p class=\"mb-15 line-height-level-6\">Lightsource bp, a global trusted partner in delivering onshore renewable energy solutions, is pleased to publish its 2024 Sustainability Report.<\/p>\n    <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/news\/lightsource-bp-publishes-2024-sustainability-report\/\">Read Story <span class=\"ml-10\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\"><path stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M1 13l6-6-6-6\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pt-60 pt-lg-100\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":351219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1029],"tags":[],"filter_by":[1031],"filter_tags":[],"class_list":["post-351217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-gr-n","filter_by-insights-gr-n"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351217"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":351851,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351217\/revisions\/351851"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/351219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351217"},{"taxonomy":"filter_by","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/filter_by?post=351217"},{"taxonomy":"filter_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/filter_tags?post=351217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}