In Poland, Volkswagen is grazing 100 sheep at a solar power plant
Automaker Volkswagen has launched an unusual eco-friendly project in Poland, replacing lawn mowers with a flock of 100 sheep. The animals maintain the grounds of a solar power plant with over 31,000 solar panels, which supplies electricity to the company’s plant in Poznań.
Company representatives explained that the sheep graze under the solar panels, keeping the vegetation in good condition, and also help researchers study the possibilities of combining agriculture and renewable energy in the same area.
The 18.3 MW solar power plant, built and operated by the Berlin-based company Quanta Energy, is capable of fully supplying electricity to the Volkswagen plant in Poznań on sunny days, where, among other things, the VW e-Crafter commercial electric vans are manufactured. Overall, it covers about 25% of the plant’s energy needs throughout the year.
The project is part of the development of agrivoltaics—a technology that combines solar energy production with agricultural activities. This practice is already widely used in the U.S. and the U.K., and Volkswagen calls the Polish facility one of the most advanced industrial agrivoltaic projects in Europe.
“Today, the solar farm produces much more than just environmentally friendly electricity. It has also become a place that supports biodiversity, local agriculture, and scientific research. The sheep grazing project demonstrates that modern industry can operate in harmony with nature,” said Marzena Pilicz-Gronska, director of Volkswagen Poznań.
The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Poznań University of Life Sciences. Scientists are studying how sheep grazing affects animal welfare, soil condition, vegetation, biodiversity, and the local microclimate to assess the potential for combining large solar power plants with agriculture.
“Agrovoltaics allows us to view photovoltaic farms from a broader perspective than just energy production. We are studying how photovoltaic installations affect animal welfare and the local ecosystem, and whether the shade created by solar panels reduces heat stress in animals. At the same time, we are analyzing changes in the microclimate, vegetation, and soil to identify solutions that promote the effective integration of renewable energy into agricultural activities,” explained Dr. Joanna Składanowska-Baryza.
According to flock owner Justyna Nowak-Gajek, the sheep quickly adapted to their new environment.
“We can clearly see that the flock feels safe—the sheep naturally divide into small groups and graze peacefully in different parts of the solar power plant. This is the best proof that they have adapted well to these conditions, because a flock that feels threatened always stays together,” she said.
The sheep are expected to remain on the power plant’s grounds until fall under the supervision of experienced herders. Volkswagen notes that this approach helps reduce maintenance costs, lower emissions, and create favorable conditions for insects and wildlife.
This was reported by Electrek.
As a reminder, Estonia has transferred one of the power units from its power plant to Ukraine and may transfer two more.
