In 2022, North Carolina farmer Lance Tabor used a 40-acre solar site for sheep grazing; he brought 41 animals onto the property to expand his operation

When Lance Tabor sought out a way to increase the pasture for his flock of sheep, he didn’t limit himself to simply adding to his farmland. Rather, he considered the land that was already used for a solar farm. Instead of viewing the land beneath solar panels as unavailable for farming, Tabor used it as grazing space for his sheep. In 2022, a 40-acre solar site in Rockingham County, North Carolina, allowed him to expand his operation. The flock, which began with around 20 sheep, moved onto the site in March 2022 and grew when another 21 sheep were added the following month. As a result of the project, Tabor was able to bring almost twice as many sheep to his farm and to help take care of the greenery around the solar panels. The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) at North Carolina State University states that Tabor’s partnership with solar grazing was created out of the need for affordable areas to expand his sheep operation.

A farmer searching for more space

Many livestock farmers faced the same problems as Tabor. Expanding an animal operation requires more land, but buying or leasing additional acreage can also be difficult. In 2021, Tabor attended a presentation about solar grazing through NC Choices, a program connected with CEFS that supports farmers. After learning that solar companies would sometimes need to manage vegetation near their installations, he started thinking about whether solar facilities can organize grazing for his sheep. The concept linked two industries that do not usually relate to each other. Solar companies wanted to take care of grass and plants under solar panels while farmers required pasture. Hence, a grazing partnership might benefit both sides.


When solar panels became pasture

The partnership developed with a solar site operated by Strata Solar. In late 2021, Tabor provided a vegetation management proposal following site visits and planning. In spring 2022, his sheep had moved onto the 40-acre property. It wasn't easy to just put animals in a field. Tabor is now in charge of managing grazing and reducing vegetation to appropriate levels around the solar panels. He also used guard dogs to protect the flock from predators. Sheep provided the solar company an alternative to traditional mowing. Vegetation around solar panels must be controlled because tall plants can interfere with maintenance and access. Grazing animals can do that job and be able to generate agriculture values on the same land.

How sheep and solar panels share the same land

The idea behind Tabor’s project is known as agrivoltaics, a system that combines agriculture and solar energy production on the same land. A study shows that solar farms generally take up a lot of space, and not all areas can be used for traditional crops. These areas may be used for grazing sheep, whilst providing alternative uses for the land beyond electricity production. Sheep are well suited to this kind of system as they seldom harm solar components and will graze between the rows of panels. Some shade can also be provided for animals on hot days as well with the panels but care needs to be taken in how water is provided, how fenced off they are and the amount of grazing.

The practical challenges behind solar grazing

Not every solar site can support the same number of animals because grass growth depends on factors such as soil quality, rainfall, shade from panels, and previous land use. Solar grazing creates new opportunities, but also demands careful planning. Solar sites are known to have unique grazing design requirements that differ from other traditional uses of the land, and these requirements must be identified by researchers and farming groups. Farmers need to take into account animal health, vegetation control requirements, and solar operator maintenance requirements.

A growing model for shared land use

The integration of renewable energy and agriculture has gained traction in North Carolina. Solar grazing projects are being looked into to enable access to extra grazing land and to put into practice the management of vegetation by the solar operators. The system is still being developed, and work is ongoing on how to optimise energy production with livestock management. Specific issues like the optimum stocking rate of sheep per acre, the long-term impact of grazing and the optimum grazing schedule are still being investigated.