Volkswagen Poznań solar farm employs sheep to manage vegetation

Around 100 Wielkopolska sheep are grazing on a 27‑hectare photovoltaic farm owned by Volkswagen Poznań near Września, Poland. The site hosts more than 31,000 panels with a total capacity of 18.3 MW, supplying a significant share of the energy used by the nearby Volkswagen plant.

The animals replace traditional motorised mowers, feeding on grass and weeds without damaging the panels and cutting the need for heavy equipment. The initiative is presented as a model of agro‑voltaic practice that supports biodiversity, reduces emissions and noise, and offers shade and protection for the sheep. Researchers from the University of Natural Sciences of Poznań are studying the environmental and animal‑welfare impacts, while Quanta Energy handles construction and operation of the farm.

Volkswagen Poznań director Marzena Pillich‑Grońska said the project shows how industry can cooperate with nature, and flock owner Justyna Nowak‑Gajek noted the sheep feel safe and adapt well to the solar‑farm environment.