Livestock agrivoltaic structure

for sheepfor cattle

Overview
In livestock farming, climatic hazards (drought, heat stress) reduce forage production and quality, affect soil microbiota, and impact animal welfare, productivity and fertility. Sun'Agri dynamic agrivoltaics controls shading and light to protect grass regrowth, secure forage production and provide thermal comfort to animals.

Observed benefits

• Smoother forage production and better intake by the herd.
• Estimated milk production increase between 1 and 8% per cow.
• Up to +1.8 kg average daily gain (ADG) per heifer.
• Preservation of meadow diversity and soil microbiota by limiting heat- and drought-related degradation.

Intelligent shading control
Panels are controlled according to weather conditions and pasture needs using artificial intelligence. Control takes into account:

• Farmer objectives (grazing, production, mowing, etc.).
• Real-time climatic conditions.
• Weather forecasts.
• Plant growth models.

Structure designed for livestock
Sun'Agri has developed a patented technology designed to protect pastures and animals without hindering farm operations. Main features of the structure and fit-outs:

• Mobile trackers installed at 3.5 m height with a 6.8 m row spacing, compatible with sheep, cattle and goats and with agricultural machinery passages.
• Robust structure, 100% demountable, made of recycled or recyclable European steel.
• Installation without electrical or mechanical risk for animals.
• Possible fit-outs: access routes, watering points, scratching posts, mobile fences.

Agronomic monitoring and application
Each project is monitored by agronomy engineers by comparing the equipped plot with a control plot. Data and services available via the Sun'Agri application:

• Real-time visualization of panel control.
• Monitoring of weather and agronomic data.
• Custom alerts in case of heatwave.
• 30 hours/year of autonomous panel control for operations or machinery passages.

Compatibility and uses

• Compatible with permanent pastures.
• Adapted to sheep, cattle, equine and goats.
• Suitable for farms wishing to preserve cropping practices and existing land-lease arrangements.
• Possibility to complement farm income through green electricity production.

Project process (extracts)

• Launch: on-farm diagnostic by an agronomy engineer specialized in livestock.
• Urban planning and administrative steps: file preparation (building permits, grid connection, stakeholder consultation).
• Financing: the infrastructure can be financed by its green electricity production; co-investment options available.
• Construction: coordination and supervision of works, connections and integration with existing installations.
• Planting and control: definition of an adapted control strategy and establishment of a reference plot for monitoring.

Characteristics / technical specifications

• Product name: Dynamic agrivoltaics.
• Tracker installation height: 3.5 m.
• Tracker row spacing: 6.8 m.
• Structure: European recycled or recyclable steel, 100% demountable.
• Compatibility: sheep, cattle, equine, goats.
• Recommended parcel type: permanent pastures.
• Control: artificial intelligence accounting for farmer objectives, real-time weather, forecasts and plant growth models.
• Application: real-time visualization, weather/agronomic monitoring, heatwave alerts, 30 h/year autonomous control for works or machinery passages.
• Safety: installation without electrical or mechanical risk for animals.