Learn
We have developed a Learning Hub to support local schools with curriculum-linked content about electricity and renewable energy.
Take a look at the stand-alone website which features videos, interactive game & lesson plans for upper primary & lower secondary students.
neoenlearning.com
Neoen are proud to be leading the way in ‘agrisolar’. Dubbo Solar Hub has sheep grazing among the panels.
A short video featuring the landowner and grazier at another of Neoen’s solar farm explains how well agriculture and solar can combine, bringing some unexpected benefits and can be found here Dubbo Agriculture and Solar Video.
A summary info pack is also available which summarises all of Neoen’s initiatives in this area.
About Agrisolar
2017 Parkes Trial
Our first sheep grazing trial was conducted at Parkes Solar Farm in 2017 during a high rainfall and high produce year. It was a joint exercise between Neoen, local landowners and solar construction company Bouygues.
The 3 week trial involved 400 sheep within a 15 hectares zone to help reduce dry grass under the solar panels in order to manage grass fire hazard. It successfully showed that this combined land use had positive outcomes for farmers and solar operators.
2019 Expert Review
By 2019 sheep grazing had begun on all five of our operating solar farms in NSW and Victoria. These activities were assessed by an independent grazier expert to document existing practices and make recommendations on how to integrate grazing into each stage of the solar farm’s lifecycle.
2020-2023 Industry Report and Research
We led an initiative with the Clean Energy Council to bring together research, case studies and lessons from across the industry into a ground-breaking Agrisolar Report which was launched in March 2021. The report guides and informs farmers, solar farm operators and government to integrate agriculture and solar.
We are also collaborating with Agriculture Victoria who have been researching microclimatic conditions and pasture species under solar panels at our Numurkah Solar Farm in Victoria.
There are no issues with sheep-grazing co-existing with solar farms. It’s an opportunity and win-win for farmers and renewable energy producers.
Tom Warren, Land Owner
Dubbo Solar Hub in NSW
Agrisolar Guide
As pioneers of agrisolar Neoen led an industry -wide initiative to share emerging lessons on agrisolar which resulted in the development of Australia’s first Agrisolar Guide.
Our industry body, the Clean Energy Council brought together research, case studies and lessons from around the world to inform farmers, solar farm operators on ways to integrate agriculture with large-scale solar.
© 2024 Neoen
Acknowledgement of Country artwork: ‘Celebrating Renewal’ by Teho Ropeyarn, 2022
