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Volkswagen has found an unusual way to maintain one of its largest solar parks in Europe. Instead of sending lawnmowers beneath more than 31,000 photovoltaic panels, the company relies on a flock of about 100 sheep to keep the grass under control at its Września plant in western Poland. The animals graze among the rows of solar panels, helping maintain the site while allowing the land to remain in agricultural use.
The project goes beyond reducing maintenance costs. Volkswagen, together with researchers from the Poznań University of Life Sciences, is using the solar park to study how grazing animals affect vegetation, soil quality, biodiversity and the local microclimate. The initiative reflects a growing trend in Europe known as agrivoltaics, where renewable energy generation and agricultural activity share the same land instead of competing for it.
Operators of large solar parks must control vegetation throughout the growing season. If grass becomes too tall, it can block access for maintenance crews, shade electrical equipment and increase fire risk during periods of hot, dry weather. Most facilities rely on tractors or mechanical mowers, but those machines consume fuel, compact the soil and require repeated maintenance.
Volkswagen chose a different solution. Sheep graze close to the ground without damaging the steel structures that support the solar panels. Their compact stature allows them to maneuver easily beneath the arrays, trimming vegetation in tight spots unreachable by heavy machinery. Unlike heavier livestock, they place little pressure on the soil and can remain at the site for extended periods without interrupting electricity generation.
The flock is managed by a local shepherd, who rotates the animals through different sections of the solar park as grass growth changes throughout the year. According to Volkswagen, this approach maintains routine vegetation management with minimal mechanical intervention, preserving the land’s agricultural character.
The company says the animals have adapted well to their surroundings. Observing how they move through the site also forms part of the research. Shepherds note that relaxed sheep naturally spread across the grazing area, while stressed animals tend to remain grouped. Their behaviour provides researchers with another indicator when evaluating how livestock interact with large renewable energy facilities.
Volkswagen’s photovoltaic park occupies about 27 hectares (67 acres) and includes more than 31,000 solar panels with an installed capacity of approximately 18.3 megawatts. According to the company, the installation supplies around one-quarter of the annual electricity demand at the nearby Września factory and can cover the plant’s full electricity needs during periods of peak solar production.
Rather than treating the area beneath the panels as unused space, Volkswagen has turned it into an active research site. Scientists from the Poznań University of Life Sciences are monitoring how continuous grazing influences plant diversity, soil conditions and insect populations over time. They are also studying whether the vegetation growing beneath the panels creates a different microclimate than nearby open fields and how grazing affects those conditions.
Marzena Pillich-Grońska, Director of Volkswagen Poznań, said the project demonstrates that industrial facilities can serve more than one purpose. “The sheep project demonstrates that modern industry can coexist with nature. Areas used for renewable energy can also support agriculture, biodiversity and scientific research.”
The company sees the project as part of its broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making better use of industrial land. Instead of separating energy production from farming, the site now combines both activities in the same location.
Volkswagen is not the only company replacing lawnmowers with livestock. Solar grazing has expanded steadily in recent years as countries install larger photovoltaic parks while seeking to preserve agricultural land.
Examples of solar grazing include:
Depending on the site, solar panels can coexist with grazing animals, crops or orchards, allowing the same land to generate electricity while continuing to support agriculture.
Volkswagen’s project illustrates how that idea is moving from experimental sites to industrial facilities. The company continues to monitor the grazing program alongside scientific researchers. Together, they aim to understand not only how sheep manage vegetation under solar panels, but also how renewable energy projects can improve soil health, support biodiversity, and optimize land use across Europe’s expanding clean energy network.
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