Payments offered for sheep to graze large solar sites

Significant growth in the solar energy sector is providing a new revenue stream for sheep farmers, with payments in return for grazing fields with ground-mounted arrays.

A company called The Sheep Solution acts as a link between energy firms and farmers in France and Belgium, and is now also operating in the UK.

It is initially offering agreements for a 10ha site in Gwithian, Cornwall, and a 56ha solar park in County Durham, but expects to have more sites to offer in the next few weeks.

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Most solar arrays are surrounded by secure fencing, and in a year when fodder is in short supply, these agreements could offer feed security, said Mathilde Leguedois, assistant manager at Sheep Solutions.

“We already have agreements for next year with large solar energy groups,” said Ms Leguedois.

“The number of solar energy parks is growing, as the development of green energy is a priority for the UK government.

“For the farmer it allows an additional income and grazing surfaces and, for the customer, it brings an ecological and economic solution,” she said.

Added benefits

The panels provide shade, and the infrastructure also acts as a windbreak.

Income depends on the size of the sites – payments are made in recognition of management, transport, portable handling equipment, labour and other factors.

The average payment to each French farmer is about €10,000 (£9,000), said Ms Leguedois.

“We hope to bring this same level of payment to English sheep farmers, or even more.”

This is because the size of UK solar farms tends to be bigger than those in France.

Sheep grazing instead of mechanical grass management eliminates the risk of damage from tractors or mowers hitting the solar equipment or mowers throwing stones that can damage panels. 

The Sheep Solution is aiming to secure contracts for a period of three to five years. 

Flock owners are responsible for shepherding and have to take insurance in case of any damage to the site by sheep.