Livestock agrivoltaic canopy

for cattle

Overview
The TSE Livestock Tracker (livestock shading system) is an agrivoltaic solution for cattle, sheep and goat farming, designed to mitigate climate impacts on grassland and animals by providing partial, rotating shade through active control of solar panels. It is developed for rotational grazing systems and engineered to minimize pasture footprint while offering shelter to animals during heat, adverse weather or climatic hazards.

Key advantages

• Compatible with cattle, sheep and goat farming in rotational grazing systems.
• Small ground footprint enabling free livestock movement and limited impact on pasture.
• Animal safety provided by a comfortable minimum height beneath panels, adapted to livestock type.
• Protects animals under panels during climatic hazards (heat, storms).
• Active panel control generates partial, rotating shade across the grassland surface.
• Compatible with agricultural machinery (clearance around ≈ 15 m).
• Optimized panel positioning to facilitate agricultural operations (machinery passage, mowing).
• Provides long-term additional income potential for the farmer and landowner.

Agronomic benefits

• Reduces heat stress on grassland and animals.
• Limits evapotranspiration and water stress, enabling water savings.
• Improves grassland yields during dry periods; increases resilience in dry conditions.
• Enhances animal welfare through shading and shelter (animals rest under canopy during heatwaves).

Performance & experimental results

• Similar annual yields under the agrivoltaic system and control plots, with improved resilience in dry conditions (Souleuvre-en-Bocage, 2024–2025).
• Air temperature at plant height reduced by about 4°C on average under the shade structure during the hottest part of the day (Chadeleuf, May 2026).
• Average potential evapotranspiration reduced by ~35% in monitored demonstrations (Verdonnet, 2025).
• During heatwaves, cattle used shade under the canopy rather than seeking shelter in buildings (Souleuvre-en-Bocage, summer 2025).

Technical & installation notes

• Foundations: preference for piled foundations—metal driven stakes supporting panel arrays (avoids large concrete footings where possible).
• Active control system for panels to create rotating and partial shading patterns covering the whole grassland over time.
• Design ensures minimum height under panels for animal safety and machinery passage (approx. 15 m clearance in standard configurations).

Safety, electromagnetic and acoustic environment

• EMF measurements in trials (Souleuvre-en-Bocage, 2025) show values below the European regulatory threshold of 100 µT at 50 Hz. No identified risk for humans or animals from measured EM fields.
• Agrivoltaic installations generate very low background noise—comparable to a quiet conversation and well below noise levels of roads or typical livestock facilities—and are reported not to disturb animals.

Applications

• Rotational grazing systems for cattle, sheep and goats.
• Paddocks, mown or grazed grasslands where shade and shelter improve animal comfort, pasture resilience and resource efficiency.

Technical characteristics & specifications

• Product family / model: TSE Livestock Tracker (livestock shading system).
• Intended livestock: cattle, sheep, goats (rotational grazing).
• Shade type: partial, rotating shade (active panel control).
• Foundation type: piled foundations / driven metal stakes (concrete avoided where possible).
• Clearance under panels: adapted to livestock; typical agricultural machinery clearance ≈ 15 m.
• Documented field results: temperature reduction ≈ 4°C at plant height on hot days; ≈ 35% reduction in potential evapotranspiration in trials; similar or improved yields in dry conditions (trial data cited).
• EMF measurements: below 100 µT at 50 Hz in test campaigns.
• Noise: low, comparable to a quiet conversation; not disruptive to animals.