Dual-Use Farmland: Inside the Rise of Agrivoltaics and Clean Energy Co-Location

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Not all dual-use acreage is dedicated to specialty horticulture. Solar grazing has emerged as the fastest-growing sector of agrivoltaic operations across North America and Australia. Shepherds contract with utility-scale solar operators to manage ground vegetation beneath panels, replacing diesel-powered mowing crews and chemical herbicide spraying with targeted rotational grazing.

Sheep thrive under panel arrays. The modules provide essential shade during hot afternoons, reducing thermal stress on the animals, improving wool quality, and lowering water consumption. For the livestock producer, contracts typically pay $250, $600 per acre annually for vegetation management services. For the solar operator, biological mowing eliminates mechanical rock-strike risks that shatter photovoltaic glass panels. The practice maintains open agricultural tax valuations on utility sites, lowering property tax burdens while preserving regional pasture continuity.