Automaker Volkswagen uses 100 sheep at a solar power plant with 31,000 solar panels in Poland, reports Electrek, writes UNN.
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"At a massive solar power plant that supplies electricity to one of Volkswagen's factories in Poland, Volkswagen has replaced lawnmowers with sheep, and the animals do more than just cut the grass," the publication says.
Instead of lawnmowers, a flock of 100 sheep now grazes under more than 31,000 solar panels that provide electricity to the Volkswagen plant in Poznań (where, among other models, the commercial VW e-Crafter van is produced). This, it is noted, is a practical way to maintain the facility, allowing researchers to study how agriculture and solar energy can coexist on the same land.
The 18.3 megawatt (MW) solar power plant was built and is managed by the Berlin-based company Quanta Energy. On sunny days, it can produce enough electricity to meet all the plant's needs, and over the course of a year, it provides about 25% of the electricity required by the plant.
The sheep grazing project is part of a larger program in the field of agrivoltaics, which combines solar energy with agriculture on the same land. Sheep grazing at solar power plants is becoming increasingly common in countries such as the USA and the United Kingdom, and Volkswagen says this is one of the most advanced projects in Europe in the field of industrial agrivoltaics, as it also includes a large scientific research program.
"Today, the photovoltaic farm produces much more than just clean electricity. It has also become a place that supports biodiversity, local agriculture, and scientific research. The sheep grazing project demonstrates that modern industry can work in harmony with nature," said Marzena Pillich-Grońska, director of Volkswagen Poznań.
The project is implemented jointly with the Poznań University of Life Sciences, whose researchers are studying the impact of sheep grazing on animal welfare, biodiversity, soil quality, vegetation, and the microclimate of the site. The goal is to better understand how large-scale solar energy and agriculture can successfully coexist in the same area.
"Agrivoltaics allows us to view photovoltaic farms from a broader perspective than just energy production," said Dr. Joanna Skladanowska-Baryza from the university's Department of Animal Production and Product Quality Assessment. "We are studying how photovoltaic installations affect animal welfare, the local ecosystem, and whether the shade created by solar panels reduces heat stress in animals. At the same time, we are analyzing changes in microclimate, vegetation, and soil to identify solutions that promote the effective integration of renewable energy into agricultural activities."
The sheep will live at the solar power plant until autumn under the supervision of experienced breeders. In addition to eliminating the need for mechanical mowing, grazing can reduce maintenance costs and emissions, as well as create a habitat for insects and other wildlife.
According to the flock's owner, Justyna Nowak-Gajek, the sheep quickly settled in.
"We can clearly see that the herd feels safe – the sheep naturally divide into small groups and graze calmly in different parts of the solar power plant. This is the best proof that they have adapted well to these conditions, because a herd that feels threatened always stays together," she said.
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