Southern Europe against the energy crisis: New gold mine in the solar park

A study by researchers at Western University published in the journal Applied Energy highlights that the integration of solar parks and sheep farming can be an effective response to declining agricultural profitability. So-called agrovoltaic systems provide both energy production and agricultural use while reducing market risks. The research examined two operational models. One is the year-round "breeding model," in which the farm maintains its own flock of ewes. Although this requires significant initial investment and ongoing labor, it provides the greatest financial stability. The EBITDA rate in this case can range from 22–40 percent, which is several times the average 7.32 percent rate in agriculture. The other, so-called "auction model," is more flexible: farmers buy young lambs and sell them after a five-month grazing period. This system operates with lower fixed costs and can provide a return on investment (ROI) of up to 43 percent in optimal cases, although it is more ...