Solar sheep help rural Australia go green, one panel at a time

Farmers including Tom Warren are grazing sheep under solar panels near Dubbo; one farm has more than 30,000 panels across about 50 hectares and produces roughly 20 megawatts.

Near Dubbo in New South Wales, farmers are grazing sheep beneath large solar arrays on farmland. Tom Warren's site has more than 30,000 panels across about 50 hectares and was developed with renewables firm Neoen. Warren said he initially worried the panels would limit grazing but reported the sheep use the panels for shade and the arrangement has yielded additional farm income. Farmers and industry representatives describe this combined use of land as agrivoltaics and say it is spreading in the state. What we know: - Tom Warren's farm has over 30,000 solar panels on about 50 hectares and is reported to produce about 20 megawatts of power. - Warren said the solar farm income is greater than he would get from agriculture alone and reported about a 15 percent increase in gross revenue from sheep grazing under the panels. - Farmers report the grass under panels is more consistent and that wool grown beneath the arrays has been cleaner and of better quality. - Farmer Tony Inder grazes a much larger flock and uses land with panels on which he does not hold ownership; landowners in that arrangement allow grazing and reduce their mowing while meeting bushfire prevention requirements. - Emily Walker, a company director in New South Wales, said the industry is moving quickly and that all of their solar farms in the state now have sheep grazing on them. - Canberra has announced emissions-reduction targets and has invested in renewables, and consultants such as Karin Stark have called for more funding to incentivise combined agricultural and renewable use of farmland. Summary: The agrivoltaic approach reported at several New South Wales sites is producing electricity while allowing continued sheep grazing, and farmers describe benefits to pasture consistency, wool quality and farm income. Industry representatives say grazing is increasingly common on solar farms in the state, and advocates have said further funding would support wider adoption.