Sheep Instead of Lawn Mowers: A Sustainable Solution for Solar Parks?
The idea of using sheep instead of traditional lawn mowers to maintain solar parks might sound unconventional, but it’s an innovative approach gaining traction worldwide, particularly in the United States. While still in the experimental phase in Hungary, this concept has already been implemented on a small scale. E.ON Hungary has recently started grazing ten sheep in a small solar park near Toponár, close to Kaposvár, as part of a pilot project.
The Business Model: Cost Savings and Practicality
E.ON has been tight-lipped about the specific financial details of the project, but they’ve revealed that the sheep are rented from a nearby flock of 150 animals. The rental period lasts from spring to autumn, and the associated costs include transportation and one-time expenses for preparing the area, such as building a fence, providing water, and setting up shaded areas.
According to E.ON, they save several hundred thousand forints annually—around 30% of their previous maintenance costs—by using sheep instead of traditional mowing methods. Although these savings are modest (approximately 200,000-300,000 forints, suggesting that the total previous maintenance cost was around 1 million forints annually), the potential for savings could be significantly higher for larger solar parks.
The Global Perspective: A Growing Trend
The use of sheep for maintaining solar parks is already well-documented in the U.S., where it’s become a common practice. The American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) reports that in the U.S., sheep are used to manage over 6,000 hectares of solar land. In Europe, this practice is most prevalent in the UK and France.
For energy companies, establishing a full-scale sheep farming operation within their organization isn’t feasible. Instead, they opt to contract these services seasonally. However, this arrangement only works if it’s financially beneficial for both parties. The energy company needs to save more by using sheep than it would by hiring lawn care and weed control services. Similarly, the livestock owner must find this more profitable than grazing elsewhere.
Challenges and Opportunities
The feasibility of such projects depends heavily on local conditions and the specific characteristics of each site. In the Toponár case, only ten sheep from a nearby flock were used, and they will be returned to the flock during the winter, requiring ongoing care. From the shepherd’s perspective, this experiment doesn’t significantly alter their routine.
However, if solar parks demand more extensive grazing services, farmers might consider increasing their flocks. This expansion would necessitate investments in winter feed, transportation, and regular inspections. For example, at the Toponár site, the animals need to be checked bi-weekly, which adds to the operational costs.
One of the environmental benefits of using sheep is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. If the sheep graze in the same area where a farmer would typically keep them, the emissions saved by not using mowers or herbicides could be substantial. At Toponár, for instance, approximately 25 liters of gasoline were used per mowing session. Although transporting and regularly checking the sheep also requires fuel, this might balance out with the fuel used by the maintenance staff.
Alternatives: Could Robots Be the Answer?
Another option could be the use of industrial-scale robotic lawn mowers. While this solution would require a significant upfront investment or leasing costs, it would eliminate the need for transportation and on-site visits. Moreover, since we’re discussing solar parks, electricity for these robots would be readily available.
However, E.ON has noted that the terrain at Toponár, including a drainage ditch, makes the use of robotic mowers impractical, so this solution hasn’t been considered yet.
Conclusion: A Green and Economical Future?
The concept of using sheep for solar park maintenance presents an intriguing mix of environmental and economic benefits, particularly as the practice expands. While still in its early stages in Hungary, the success of such projects in other countries suggests that with the right conditions and management, sheep could become a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional mowing methods. As this practice grows, it may lead to further innovations in how we manage renewable energy resources.