The incorporation of agriculture and renewable energy at solar farm locations benefits solar energy producers, farmers, and the agricultural communities in which many solar arrays are located. Dual use of the land (or even more complimentary uses!) allows solar energy producers, farmers, local communities, and the land ecosystem to benefit from their integration. 

Sheep are uniquely qualified for grazing at solar sites, because their small size allows them to move under the solar panels without disturbing them. Panels must be built higher to deter goats from jumping or climbing on them or to allow cattle to move underneath, which is a signficant additional expense for the solar company.

Sheep graze beneath the panels, removing vegetation that might otherwise block or damage the panels. Solar companies must mow and maintain this land to protect their equipment, but sheep can do it for them at a much lower cost! Unlike mechanical mowing, sheep can "mow" right up to the solar supports. The natural fertilizer that they leave behind improves soil quality, making the land more drought and flood resistant, thereby mitigating fires, which further protect the panels. Not to mention, using sheep for this purpose is much more aligned with one purpose of moving towards renewable energy: to protect and benefit the environment as part of the energy production system.

Sheep also benefit from the shade created by the solar panels and allow farmers who may otherwise be displaced from the land to continue their agricultural operations. The soil and ecosystem at the solar site is improved and other revenue streams can be introduced as well (for example, sheep pair well with pollinators!).
 

Agrivoltaics is growing rapidly across the U.S. and the world, and for good reason!