Solar electric sheep marry Australian farmers with clean energy

The article highlights the innovative practice of combining agriculture, specifically sheep grazing, with solar electricity generation—a concept known as agrivoltaics or “solar electric sheep.” This approach is exemplified by the 149-megawatt Glenrowan West solar farm in Australia, operated by Gayle and Tom Lee, which integrates livestock grazing with renewable energy production on the same land. This dual land use, already established in Europe, Japan, and parts of the United States, offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution that maintains vegetation under and around solar panels, improving soil health and reducing maintenance costs for solar companies. Australian pioneers like Ben Wynn of Wynergy are also exploring cattle-plus-solar models, though successful implementation requires careful solar farm design to accommodate animals. Researchers such as Eric Nordberg emphasize the mutual benefits for farmers and solar companies: farmers retain grazing land without selling it to energy firms, while companies gain free vegetation management. Despite limited local data in Australia, international examples show positive outcomes, including reduced