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Texas innovates in the solar energy market by using 3.000old for solar panel maintenance. Understand how this initiative leverages the renewable energy sector.
The Shepherd of Sheep Jr Howard never imagined that installing one of the world's largest solar power plants near your home would end up being a unique business opportunity. Despite being the leading oil producer in the United States, Texas has made one of the strongest bets in the country on renewable energy, to the point of surpassing California in solar production. Understand how the US uses 3.000 sheep to maintain solar panels.
Texas uses 3.000 sheep to maintain solar panels
In Milam County, just outside Austin, is the fifth largest solar photovoltaic park in the world. Owned by SB Energy, this installation covers 1.600 hectares of rural land in solar panels, generating up to 900 MW of renewable energy.
Under the shade of hundreds of thousands of solar panels, not only are previously endangered insects, such as bees, proliferating. The grass is also growing healthily, requiring regular maintenance.
The solar industry tends to rely on gas-powered lawn mowers to remove grass, which defeats the essential purpose of renewable energy.
However, the person responsible for the plant with thousands of solar panels opted for a much more sustainable and traditional solution for maintaining her land: using a flock of 3.000 sheep for maintenance in Texas.
Understand why SB Energy used sheep to clean solar panels
In addition to the economic benefits, using 3.000 sheep for maintenance is viable because they can reach grasses that lawnmowers can't reach, such as those that grow in small crevices. But just as important, the sheep happily munch on grass no matter the day, rain or shine.
However, the proliferation of animals grazing on solar farms is not unique to this Texas facility. Quite the contrary, it is part of a much broader trend in the agrivoltaics industry, sometimes referred to as “solar grazing”, as has already been seen in Australia.
For JR Howard, using 3.000 sheep to maintain solar panels has changed his life. His sheep farming business has been industrialized and today he has 8 animals and 27 employees. A scenario that also occurs in 27 states in the United States, according to the American Solar Grazing Association, which reports 60 new agrovoltaic projects with grazing of small herbivores.
The solar energy industry is a unique opportunity for sheep farmers, who have seen their wool and livestock business decline in general. Agrivoltaics makes it possible to take advantage of sunny lands to generate energy and to maintain livestock, herds of goats and sheep or grow food.
Australia sees positive results in renewable energy from grazing
The use of sheep among solar panels is becoming increasingly common. Research has examined the benefits of sheep grazing among solar panels and has yielded impressive results at a solar power plant in New South Wales, Australia.
The focus of the study, carried out by Lightsource bp and EMM Consulting, was to determine whether the quality of the wool was superior.
The study consisted of 3 years of analysis with 1.700 Merino sheep divided between groups of sheep grazing in traditional paddocks and the other on a solar farm. The results of the research concluded that grazing sheep between solar panels improves the quality of the wool.
Very interesting proposal. Now the sheep in Texas can retire and go straight to roast beef. Only good things.
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When human beings use their intelligence for good, the Planet and Life are grateful.