<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/grazing-sheep-among-solar-panels-could-produce-higher-quality-wool-study-finds/>
"The co-location of solar farming with sheep grazing does not have a negative
affect on wool production and could even improve the quality of the wool
produced, a new study has found.
The study is based on the results of a second round of wool testing at the
Wellington solar farm, south east of Dubbo in New South Wales, which has shared
its site with 1,700 merino sheep for the past three years.
Legend has it that the decision to graze sheep at the solar farm came about
when an employee of Lightsource bp, the owner of the Wellington project,
complained to a local, sixth-generation wool farmer about the hassle and cost
of mowing the solar farm six times a year.
According to Tony Inder, who heads up the Allendale Merino Stud, the effect on
his sheep has been a lot better than he thought it would be – he says the wool
quality they are producing has “increased significantly.”
But Lightsource bp – which is now wholly owned by the oil and gas giant BP,
after completing the acquisition of the remaining 50.03% interest – has used
the opportunity to gather some formal data.
The study, conducted by EMM Consulting with support from Elders Rural Services,
compares two groups of merino sheep – one group grazed in a regular paddock and
the other at the Wellington solar farm.
The latest findings show grazing sheep among solar panels does no harm to wool
production, even in the case of pre-existing high-quality standards. And it
says that some parameters even indicate an improvement in wool quality,
although conclusive benefits require further long-term measurement.
Lightsource bp says that while the study at the Wellington solar farm is
ongoing, it is another indication that solar farms can exist side-by-side with
sheep farming, for the benefit of both enterprises."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
