A new report shows that over 113,000 sheep are now grazing under solar panels—highlighting the rapid growth of dual-use land for farming and clean energy.
113,000 Sheep, 129,000 Acres: Solar Grazing Is No Longer Niche
The first-ever U.S. Solar Grazing Census, conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in collaboration with the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), reveals a sweeping surge in agrivoltaic practices across the country. The findings: over 113,000 sheep grazed beneath solar panels on 129,000 acres in 2024—a scale that caught even the experts by surprise.
“This is a much larger market than previously understood—and it's accelerating quickly,” the report states.
Driven by the parallel rise in solar installations, the growth of grazing as a land management practice represents a powerful intersection of clean energy and regenerative agriculture.
Agrivoltaics Grows Up
Agrivoltaics—co-locating agriculture with solar infrastructure—is now widely adopted, with solar grazing emerging as the most common model. For landowners, it's a smart two-for-one: they generate energy and harvest agricultural value on the same land. For solar developers, it’s a way to maintain vegetation without machinery or chemicals. And for livestock producers, especially new and landless farmers, it offers access and income.
“Grazing was the only way I was able to be profitable as a livestock producer and first-generation farmer with no inherited land,” one respondent shared.
It’s more than just sheep and solar. The benefits ripple outward, supporting soil health, native plant growth, pollinator habitats, and even horticulture and beekeeping in certain regions.
Beyond Grazing: Vegetation Management Is Big Business
Nearly 62% of active solar grazers also provide additional services, including:
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Fencing and site maintenance
These services create a new kind of green job, where farmers become long-term operational partners on energy projects. As developers look for environmentally friendly O&M solutions, solar grazing fits the bill.
What Makes a Solar-Grazer Partnership Work?
Respondents identified the top two success factors for lasting grazing partnerships:
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Mutual benefit (38%): Both parties must gain value—revenue, land use, ecosystem services, or reduced costs.
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Good communication (23%): Clear expectations and responsive management build trust and long-term collaboration.
From California to the Midwest
While California leads in total number of grazed solar sites (82), Texas follows with 55. But regionally, it’s the Midwest and Northeast that show the greatest concentration of activity, with 148 and 145 grazed sites respectively.
Interestingly, over 40% of grazers work on utility-scale solar projects, but community solar farms are also popular, thanks to their scale and accessibility.
Despite agriculture being traditionally male-dominated, women made up 34% of solar grazers—a notable share. And nearly 87% of respondents brought grazing expertise from outside the solar sector, highlighting the integration of long-standing farming knowledge into a modern energy context.
U.S. Solar Generation Grows 28% Year-Over-Year
This surge in solar grazing isn’t happening in isolation. It’s tracking alongside unprecedented growth in solar power generation across the U.S.:
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Utility-scale solar capacity grew to 128.6 GW in March 2025 (from 96.9 GW a year prior).
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Small-scale installations reached 55.7 GW—also up significantly.
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Combined, total solar capacity reached 184 GW, marking a 26% year-over-year increase.
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Solar generation output soared to 321,830 GWh, up 28% over the same period.
Several major solar and storage projects are contributing to this momentum, including:
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Dunns Bridge II (Indiana): 435 MW solar + 56 MW storage
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Sun Streams Expansion (Arizona): 300 MW solar + 300 MW storage
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Peregrine Solar (Texas): 300 MW solar
A Growing Infrastructure Needs Sustainable Stewardship
With over 230 solar sites in the U.S. now actively managed through grazing, the model is evolving from novelty to norm. NREL has developed a public map and database of these sites and plans to expand tracking in future updates.
Backed by the Department of Energy’s InSPIRE initiative, this inaugural census provides a strong foundation for future agrivoltaic development, policy planning, and investment.
“Solar grazing isn’t just a trend—it’s a new form of land management,” ASGA emphasized. “It offers a way forward for clean energy that’s rooted in ecological resilience, economic opportunity, and practical, proven stewardship.”
What’s Next?
NREL and ASGA plan to continue tracking growth through future surveys and research. With the dual pressures of land scarcity and energy expansion, solar grazing is poised to become a key feature of the U.S. clean energy landscape.
