Solar Farms Turn to Sheep for Eco-Friendly Vegetation Management
Developers deploy flocks to trim grass and weeds beneath panels, cutting maintenance costs and carbon emissions
Solar developers are increasingly using flocks of sheep to manage vegetation beneath photovoltaic arrays, a tactic that companies say reduces maintenance costs and lowers carbon emissions while keeping panel rows clear.
Project owners and operators have shifted from gas-powered mowers to grazing animals because sheep can maneuver between narrow panel rows, reach areas inaccessible to mechanical equipment and graze in a wider range of weather conditions. Operators report that replacing mowing crews with grazing can cut upkeep expenses by as much as 20 percent.
Developers say the animals also support the environmental goals of solar projects. Unlike gas-powered maintenance equipment, sheep consume vegetation rather than fossil fuels, which operators say helps reduce the projects’ operational carbon footprint and better aligns ground maintenance with renewable-energy objectives.
Companies such as SB Energy in Texas have adopted the practice at scale, relying on herds of roughly 3,000 sheep to graze across thousands of acres of panel arrays. Project managers cite the animals’ ability to access tight spaces under and between arrays and to continue grazing in rain or shine as operational advantages that contribute to lower labor and fuel costs.
Operators say the approach reduces the need for regular visits by machinery and crews, and it can simplify logistical planning on large-scale sites. In addition to cutting direct maintenance costs, grazing can reduce the frequency and intensity of mechanical operations that require fuel, transport and personnel, factors that previously contributed to routine operating expenses on many solar sites.
The grazing model is part of a broader shift among renewable-energy developers toward practices that aim to lower lifecycle emissions and operating costs. Companies implementing managed grazing programs typically coordinate with livestock managers or shepherds to move animals through arrays on a schedule that maintains vegetation without compromising access for inspections and repairs.
Industry observers note that while grazing is not a universal solution for all sites—factors such as local regulations, predator management, fencing and site layout affect feasibility—the practice has gained momentum where conditions permit. Developers adopting grazing programs say the combination of cost savings, reduced fuel use and reliable vegetation control make sheep an increasingly common sight on utility-scale solar projects.
As solar deployment continues to grow, operators and land managers are assessing a range of site-management practices that conserve resources and lower operating costs. Managed grazing is emerging as one approach that can complement other maintenance strategies while reinforcing the renewable sector’s environmental objectives.