At Volkswagen’s Września plant in western Poland, nearly 100 Wielkopolska sheep graze beneath a solar park covering about 27 hectares. The flock manages grass and other vegetation around the photovoltaic installation, which generates electricity for the factory complex.
Managed by Quanta Energy, the park has more than 31,000 panels and a reported maximum output of 18.3 megawatts. It supplies about a quarter of the factory’s annual electricity consumption and can meet the industrial complex’s full demand on sunny days. The installation ranks among Europe’s largest factory-connected photovoltaic sites.
Sheep Replace Machines
Using sheep to control vegetation is a form of agrivoltaics, which combines solar power generation with agricultural activity on the same land. At Września, grazing replaces mechanical mowing between the panels, reducing the need to move heavy equipment around the arrays and their electrical infrastructure. The animals can also use the panels for shade and shelter in hot weather.
The flock arrived in late April and is due to remain at the site until autumn. Its owner and caretaker, Justyna Nowak-Gajek, says the sheep have adapted quickly and graze in small groups. The animals belong to the Wielkopolska breed, a regional Polish breed included in a genetic-resource conservation program.
Scientific Study in Action
The project also involves research with the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. Researchers are monitoring animal behavior and welfare, along with pasture quality and soil characteristics. They are also tracking microclimate conditions beneath the solar arrays. Their work examines ammonia emissions and the wider ecological effects of combining livestock with photovoltaic infrastructure.
The monitoring is intended to assess how grazing, animal welfare and energy production can coexist at the site, while generating findings that may inform future agrivoltaic projects. Vegetation management and soil conditions are among the factors that can shape how well the dual-use approach works in practice. The microclimate beneath the panels also matters.
Rethinking Industrial Land Use
For Volkswagen, the flock has an operational role in controlling grass and weeds, as well as a research role examining how renewable energy and livestock interact with biodiversity. Grazing can reduce reliance on mowing machinery, while the solar park continues to generate electricity on the same land. The Września project puts that combined use of industrial property into practice, bringing energy production together with livestock management at a working factory.
