{"id":58281,"date":"2020-03-12T08:14:50","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T08:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/?post_type=perspective&p=58281"},"modified":"2021-05-18T05:47:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T05:47:44","slug":"is-counting-sheep-another-step-towards-sustainable-energy-production","status":"publish","type":"perspective","link":"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/is-counting-sheep-another-step-towards-sustainable-energy-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Is counting sheep another step towards sustainable energy production?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solar energy<\/a> production has gained momentum over recent years, not just a sustainable resource but also in its economic benefits.\u00a0 Solar construction costs decreased 37% between 2013 and 2017.\u00a0 In the first half of 2019, the levelized cost (net present cost over its lifetime) of utility-scale solar dropped a further 18%, while lithium-ion battery energy storage decreased by 35%.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet challenges still remain in the operation and maintenance (O&M) of large-scale solar plants.\u00a0 The open space they require often means they occupy land traditionally used for agriculture.\u00a0 Long grass, weeds and other vegetation can all provide unwanted shade, or \u2018panel shadowing\u2019 as it is known, inhibiting solar installations from working to their greatest effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The mowing and clearing process is labor intensive \u2013 particularly in accessing restricted areas underneath the installations.\u00a0 Mechanical mowers, and the use of herbicides to curb vegetation growth, provide their own negative environmental impact and often provide poor vegetation maintenance.<\/p>\n

Solar grazing \u2013 a win-win, win-win-win solution!<\/h2>\n

One solution that gained increasing traction over recent years has been \u2018solar grazing\u2019 \u2013 using sheep to keep vegetation growth in check more naturally and effectively than any human maintenance intervention could achieve.<\/p>\n

\"Sheep
Sheep grazing on a ‘solar farm’ in Devon, England. (Archive photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sheep, in particular, are more effective in the job than larger grazing animals such as cows and horses, as their relatively small size allows them to reach low-mount solar arrays.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 Their grazing habits also make them extremely effective, as they enjoy eating many of the grasses and weeds that cause the biggest threat to solar installations.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

For both farmers and developers, solar grazing offers a win-win proposition.\u00a0 Sheep farmers benefit by keeping their land productive through the extra revenue streams they gain by contracting with solar companies.\u00a0 Solar companies benefit by securing the land area they need to generate clean energy, plus a natural low maintenance vegetation management system – the sheep.\u00a0 Even the sheep themselves benefit, as the solar panels provide shelter from the rain, wind, and from the direct sun on hot days.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

The solar grazing concept allows for \u2018double land use\u2019, enabling solar plants to be sited on green, cultivatable and agricultural land, rather than setting them on barren sand, dirt or concrete, which tended to be the traditional model.\u00a0 This improves the visual impact of the countryside and creates its own micro-ecology, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>) emissions in a way that a non-grass site cannot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By avoiding traditional mechanical or chemical vegetation control procedures, solar grazing lowers operating costs and reduces environmental impact.<\/p>\n

\"AdaptiveIn Australia, there are cases where the biomass (plant or animal material used for energy production) under the solar panels has increased by 90% by adopting solar grazing techniques.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Solar grazing also reduces fire risks which can occur when long vegetation interferes with the electrical components of solar installations.\u00a0 As a point of interest, goats and sheep have most recently been deployed as a way of keeping vegetation growth at bay to reduce the incidence of Californian wildfires.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Another benefit is that is no need for pesticides and herbicides to curb weeds and infestations.\u00a0 This means that the run-off from rainwater reaching nearby streams, rivers or underground \u2018aquifers\u2019 (water sources) are less affected by harmful chemicals.<\/p>\n

Solar grazing at La Jacinta<\/h2>\n

Solar plant developer, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV<\/a>), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy<\/a>, is one of the world\u2019s leading solar photovoltaic (PV) developers.\u00a0 Its project pipeline of 4.8 gigawatts (GW) includes installations in the Middle East, USA, Australia, Europe, Africa and Central and South America.[7]<\/a>\u00a0 This equates to generating enough electricity for around two million homes and avoiding six million tons of CO2<\/sub> emissions.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n