Solar Panels Kept Efficient by Sheep!
Carolina Solar Energy developed the newest solar energy park in North Carolina. The park is a small one, powering about 60 homes in Person County.
Sheep are being used to trim the weeds around the solar panels, so they are kept completely receptive to the sun. Sheep contribute less to global warming than do gas-powered lawn mowers. The practice of grass and weed management via sheep reportedly comes from Europe. (The United Nations in Geneva is also using sheep to keep its grounds well-manicured, and last year, the city of Turin, Italy brought in sheep to trim their parks, instead of using conventional lawnmowers.)
Sheep can reach tight places between solar panels not easily touched by landscaping equipment. Using the shaggy herds could also carry the benefit of creating wool, depending on the type of animal selected.
3,240 photovoltaic panels generate the electricity. Sixty homes is not a lot, but the park serves also as an educational experience for the public. “People are stopping by all the time. At first, people thought it was a vineyard because we were putting up a lot of poles, ” said the owner of Carolina Solar Energy, Richard Harkrader.
Another North Carolina company, SAS, is using sheep on its own solar electric farm.
Image Credit: Jmp Blog
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Sheep are great for cutting grass, but can the do the cool stripes??
Sheep are great for cutting grass, but can the do the cool stripes??
Sheep are great for cutting grass, but can the do the cool stripes??
Great idea. Just don’t eat the sheep. There’s nothing worse than mutton.
Great idea. Just don’t eat the sheep. There’s nothing worse than mutton.
Hi Jake,
Not, to knock the UN in Geneva but farmers have done this forever – that I am aware of sheep and geese are commonly used. Of course my information is from 50 years back.
Hi Jake,
Not, to knock the UN in Geneva but farmers have done this forever – that I am aware of sheep and geese are commonly used. Of course my information is from 50 years back.
@susan
Clearly you haven’t had good mutton then.
The best place I ate in China was a small Muslim restaurant with awesome spiced mutton and bread.
@susan
Clearly you haven’t had good mutton then.
The best place I ate in China was a small Muslim restaurant with awesome spiced mutton and bread.
@susan
Clearly you haven’t had good mutton then.
The best place I ate in China was a small Muslim restaurant with awesome spiced mutton and bread.
Awesome idea! These solar panels don’t even really have a land footprint because they are being used as graising land.
Love it
Awesome idea! These solar panels don’t even really have a land footprint because they are being used as graising land.
Love it
Wow, using sheep to do the yard work is such a creative solution! I love it! 🙂
How efficient! Thanks for sharing, I love hearing about new green ways to power/maintain communities.
How about using rabbits?
Then someone could open a ‘fresh, free-range rabbit’ stand next door.
Lapin a La Cocotte for dinner, yummmmmmmmmm….
3240 panels for 60 homes. That’s 54 panels/house. These are either the least efficient panels ever or they’re doing more than powering 60 homes. Also hooray for sheep or something.