Cows Grazing at Tennessee Solar Energy Site
With a project implemented in Tennessee, cattle are grazed under solar panels, thus combining energy production and agriculture.
In a project launched at a solar energy site in Tennessee, cows are grazed under elevated panels, combining renewable energy with agricultural activities.
The Area Where the Project is Implemented
A new project aiming to carry out renewable energy and agricultural activities together has been launched at a 40-acre solar energy site in Tennessee. Silicon Ranch has deployed the first commercial application of the CattleTracker system at the nearly 5-megawatt capacity facility in the Christiana area.
Elevated Panels and System Design
Since the lower parts of traditional solar panels do not allow cattle to pass through, the supporting legs were raised to the height of a parking garage. The tracking systems were programmed with a special grazing mode that causes the mechanism to shift to a horizontal position when cattle enter the panel rows.
Animal Welfare and Equipment Safety
While the expanded spaces allow animals to move comfortably and shelter in the shade, the fact that cattle can exceed 540 kilograms and interact with the metal structures makes material inspection critical. The system design aims to look after animal welfare while preventing cost increases that could result from equipment damage.
Strategic Importance of Cattle
While sheep, which did not require infrastructure changes due to their small size, were previously preferred in standard sites, the cattle population in the US being 17 times larger than that of sheep led to the adaptation of the model for large livestock.
Weed Control and Ongoing Research
Since vegetation growing longer during the summer months reduces energy production, cattle undertake weed control at the site. During the trial period that began in 2023, the research team monitors the health status of the animals, panel durability, soil quality, and operating costs.