Solar ranch in Tennessee aims to prove grazing cattle under the panels is a farmland win-win
Silicon Ranch debuted a solar farm in Tennessee that grazes cattle under the panels, aiming to prove it's a win-win for farmland. The project will demonstrate that larger cattle can thrive at solar sites, potentially jump-starting new projects to meet electricity demand without contributing climate-warming emissions.
A 40-acre solar farm in Christiana, Tennessee, is grazing a small herd of cattle under its panels. Silicon Ranch, the owner, believes this cattle-grazing project is a next step in agrivoltaics, which typically involves growing crops or grazing sheep under solar panels. The company developed software to turn the panels to a near-horizontal angle when cattle are grazing, giving them room to wander. The cattle are rotated between paddocks every few days, allowing the ungrazed portion to generate 5 megawatts of electricity for Middle Tennessee Electric. The project aims to demonstrate that cattle can thrive at solar sites, potentially leading to new projects that meet electricity demand without contributing climate-warming emissions. Advocates say this could help cattle producers hold onto their land and livelihoods, while also cutting emissions.
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