Yes. Sheep can graze beneath and between many ground-mounted solar arrays, letting solar operators use livestock for some vegetation control while farmers keep land in agricultural use or earn management income. But solar grazing is not a drop-in replacement for mowing: whether it works depends on array design, water, fencing, forage, animal care, safety, and a clear agreement between the operator and grazier.
What solar grazing is—and how common it is
Solar grazing is livestock grazing at a solar facility, usually beneath and between panel rows. It is one form of agrivoltaics, the broader practice of combining agriculture with solar electricity generation. Sheep are the most common grazers in the sources available; other livestock may suit some sites, but their size and behavior affect array design and access.
The American Solar Grazing Association reported that, as of October 2024, its census covered 113,050 sheep grazing 129,261 acres at 506 sites in 30 states. These are reported census figures, not an audited national registry. American Solar Grazing Association’s 2024 census
What each side may gain
For solar operators
Grazing can help control vegetation that might otherwise require mowing, trimming, or herbicides. It may reduce some of that work, but the benefit depends on the site and management plan. Sheep do not necessarily eliminate mechanical mowing or other vegetation-control methods; roughly two-thirds of respondents in the association’s census reported responsibility for methods beyond sheep grazing.
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For farmers and graziers
A grazier may receive payment for vegetation-management services and access to land that would otherwise be unavailable for grazing. Keeping agricultural activity on a solar site can also support broader agrivoltaic goals, but diversified farm income is not guaranteed by grazing alone. Rates and long-term financial outcomes vary, and the cited sources do not establish a current standard contract price.
Why the site must be designed for livestock
Standard utility-scale panel heights generally accommodate sheep, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Cattle typically require higher arrays. Actual fit also depends on the layout, module clearance, wire placement, electrical equipment, gates, and how workers and animals move through the facility. Planning for livestock after construction can make access and daily management harder. U.S. Department of Energy’s Farmer’s Guide to Going Solar National Laboratory of the Rockies report on agrivoltaics project development
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- Water: Animals need dependable access, and the site’s water arrangements affect labor and feasibility.
- Fencing: Perimeter and interior fencing must contain the flock while allowing appropriate access and maintenance.
- Forage: Vegetation must provide suitable feed, and shade and site conditions can affect how much grows.
- Electrical and worker safety: Wiring, electrical equipment, access restrictions, training, and protective equipment require explicit planning.
Water access and fencing were among the leading reported factors associated with grazing difficulty in the 2024 association census. DOE also identifies worker safety, liability, and legal and regulatory questions as issues for agrivoltaic projects. U.S. Department of Energy overview of agrivoltaics
Stocking rates and forage need local planning
A 2025 study at one 21.85-hectare, 18-megawatt facility in New York reported an optimal rate of 8 sheep per hectare for its combined forage, flock-health, and vegetation-management objectives over two grazing seasons. The study also found that shade affected herbage yield and that stocking rates affected flock condition. That figure is specific to the studied site and objectives; it is not a universal prescription for other climates, array designs, breeds, or forage conditions. U.S. Geological Survey record of the 2025 study
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A workable plan should match flock size and grazing schedule to the forage actually available, account for shade and seasonal growth, and identify who will arrange supplemental feed, transport, veterinary care, and wintering. The parties should not assume that one stocking figure or grazing calendar will fit every site.
Agree on responsibilities before animals arrive
Solar grazing brings together a landowner or solar operator and a livestock manager whose day-to-day priorities may differ. DOE describes agrivoltaics as a developing business model, while project-development guidance notes that planning and permitting can become more complex when agricultural needs are added. The contract and operating plan should make the division of work clear rather than rely on assumptions. National Laboratory of the Rockies report on agrivoltaics project development
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- Who pays whom, and which vegetation-control services are included?
- Who provides and maintains fencing, gates, and water infrastructure?
- Who owns responsibility for flock care, animal health, transport, and winter arrangements?
- What access, worker training, and protective-equipment rules apply around electrical equipment?
- Who carries insurance and liability for workers, visitors, the site, and animals?
- Which areas still require mowing or other vegetation management, and who performs that work?
- How will the parties assess forage, stocking, animal condition, vegetation control, and any cost savings?
These are practical issues to resolve for each project, not a published standard contract checklist. The parties should also confirm applicable local permitting and legal requirements before committing to a layout or operating arrangement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When solar grazing may not fit
Grazing may be difficult to justify where the array is inaccessible to livestock, water or fencing would be impractical to provide, forage is inadequate, or the operator still needs substantial vegetation work that the arrangement does not cover. A site can also be technically accessible but unsuitable if animal-care responsibilities, safety rules, liability, or seasonal arrangements remain unresolved.
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For farmers and developers considering a project, the key decision is not simply whether sheep can fit beneath the panels. It is whether the site layout, forage and water plan, animal-management capacity, contract, and remaining vegetation work make the arrangement workable for both sides.
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