A Clear Win-Win: Better Wool and Healthier Flocks Under Solar Panels
Farmers in New South Wales’ Central West, are seeing real benefits from adopting agrivoltaics, which is the practice of combining agriculture with solar energy. Grazing sheep beneath solar panels is proving to be a smart move, with wool yields increasing both in quantity and quality. After several years of trials, local graziers are calling it “a complete win-win”.
Sheep play a key role by keeping grasses and weeds in check, which reduces maintenance costs and helps prevent panel obstruction. In return, the panels offer shelter from the elements, creating a more stable and productive environment for the animals.
Panels Create Better Conditions for Pasture and Sheep
Solar panels do more than generate electricity. It turns out that because the panels are at an angle overnight, they accumulate dew moisture which then drips down to irrigate the grass beneath. This unexpected benefit has extended grazing opportunities far beyond what would normally be possible during dry periods. The consistent moisture helps maintain ground cover and promotes healthier pastures.
Shade from the panels also lowers soil temperature and reduces evaporation. In fact, during a typical summer week in January, the soil directly beneath the panels was up to 10 degrees cooler at a depth of 10 centimetres than exposed areas. These cooler conditions are sought out by sheep during the hottest parts of the day, helping them manage heat stress and maintain comfort.
Improved Welfare Through Natural Shelter
In addition to the cooling effect, the panels also offer shelter from wind and rain, which is particularly valuable during lambing. By reducing exposure to cold winds and moisture, the risk of cold stress and lamb mortality is lowered. If lambs are able to shelter under the panels during storms, survival rates improve even more.
These animal welfare benefits translate to higher productivity—healthier sheep mean better wool yields, less stress, and fewer losses.
Triple Returns for Farm Land
Agrivoltaics doesn’t just benefit the animals—it also provides economic advantages. For landowners, it can offer three distinct revenue streams: leasing land for solar installation, grazing agreements with energy companies, and continued production of wool, meat or dairy. This diversification strengthens financial stability and spreads risk across several markets.
Maintaining low-growing pasture under solar panels also helps prevent fire hazards during summer and supports long-term soil health, keeping both the agricultural and energy sides of the system functioning efficiently.
A Smart Solution for the Future of Farming
With detailed data collected over several years—including soil moisture, temperature and light exposure—it’s clear that the agrivoltaic model works. It’s more than just a novel idea; it’s a proven system that improves land use, animal welfare and income.
As Australian agriculture looks toward a more resilient future, agrivoltaics stands out as a practical, sustainable option. With benefits for farmers, sheep and solar operators alike, now is the ideal time to consider this approach—an obvious win-win in every sense. And it begs the question…
“Why don’t all solar farms offer grazing?”
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