Co-existence with agriculture

Agrivoltaics, using land simultaneously to improve productivity of farming and generate solar, is a developing field and there are opportunities to partner with research organisations to improve productivity, biodiversity and energy production outcomes.

Solar projects should be planned for coexistence from the outset. Retrofitting is sometimes possible, however, can be cost prohibitive. Sheep grazing is the most common form of Agrivoltaics in Australia. Examples are growing, including both shedding and non-shedding breeds, resulting in high wool quality, higher carrying capacity and improved animal welfare . Examples also exist of solar arrays mounted high enough for cattle (albeit with potential increased cost) or coexisting with horticulture and viticulture.

Research shows potential for increased vegetation growth and crop yields under solar panels, as well as higher energy production, especially in hot, dry regions . Tracking systems that follow the sun result in a more even spread of sunlight and moisture under the panels than fixed tilt systems, mitigating potential for erosion or wet areas beneath the lower edge of the panel while encouraging greater plant species diversity below panels .

Local experience highlights that particular attention should be paid to stormwater management on solar farms to avoid disturbance of natural hydrological dynamics and potential erosion and sedimentation issues. Integration of local knowledge is essential to mitigate potential impacts, potentially by using vegetative swales, permeable surfaces and smaller areas of panels integrated into the landscape.

Many excellent resources exist for landholders and proponents considering Agrivoltaics. See the Further Resources page for a selection.

Most wind farms are developed on agricultural land and wind turbines are very much compatible with existing farming operations. Turbines occupy only a small amount of land, and landowners can continue or enhance grazing, cropping or regenerative farming activities. Livestock often use turbine towers for shade and shelter from wind and rain.

In consultation with landholders, local projects are being designed to fit neatly amongst centre-pivot irrigators and use existing roads, enabling unaltered cropping/harvesting operations.

Whilst there have been very rare instances of wind turbines having fires due to technical faults, modern turbines are extremely unlikely to catch fire due to built-in fire suppression systems, lightning protection mechanisms and ongoing maintenance. Turbines may even reduce the risk of bushfires started by lightning. The network of roads for turbines has been found to help with fighting unrelated fires on properties. According to the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services, turbines pose no greater risk to aerial firefighting than other infrastructure .

BESS (battery) fire risk significantly differs depending on the technology used. For example vanadium redox flow batteries now use a liquid electrolyte that is non-flammable, significantly reducing fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries. Comprehensive research is underway to improve battery technology and lower fire risk.

All renewable energy facilities require comprehensive incident, emergency and bushfire management plans, developed in collaboration with local authorities, as well as incident-trained staff. Proponents also work with local communities in developing plans and can contribute to capacity of the local fire service. For example, Genex has pledged $100k to improve equipment for the Millmerran fire fighting service, however, increased human resourcing is still required.

There is no evidence of contamination risk to livestock or food production from renewables on farming land, according to the Clean Energy Council, referenced by Meat and Livestock Australia in their latest factsheet.

Contamination concerns arose among landholders when the Livestock Production Assurance program (managed by a subsidiary of Meat & Livestock Australia) prompted producers to consider the potential contamination risks of ALL on-farm infrastructure that can degrade with age, giving examples of hydraulic equipment, capacitors, solar panels, wind turbines, coal seam gas structures, coal mine wastes and others. The program has now addressed these concerns in a factsheet and also refer to the Clean Energy Councils factsheet which states “there is no evidence to suggest that renewable technology on farms poses a contamination risk to livestock or food production”. Many industrial products (even fencing materials for example), have the potential to leach chemicals as they degrade with age or are damaged, but research has shown where levels are not hazardous to ecosystems or humans.

Renewables technology has also significantly improved, and degradation of modern componentry is small in comparison to other common contaminants, such as car tyres and brakes. So while evidence points to very low contamination risks, even with damaged materials, landholders can request information on specific componentry and/or transparent on-site monitoring.

Minimising Erosion at wind farms

Environmental Management Plans (EMPs): Wind farm developers are required to create EMPs that detail erosion and sediment control measures.

• Wind energy and high voltage power lines

Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)

Construction Practices: Proper site management, including minimising vegetation removal and careful handling of topsoil, can help mitigate erosion.

Revegetation: Replanting vegetation after construction can help stabilise the soil and reduce erosion.

Monitoring: Regular monitoring of erosion and sediment control practices can help identify and address potential problems at an early stage.

Remote Sensing: Remote sensing technologies can be used to monitor wind farm impacts on vegetation and soil at large scales, allowing for timely interventions.

• Soil Erosion and Drainage Management Plan
• Determining the effectiveness of some soil stabilizers in wind erosion prevention using wind tunnel experiments
• Wind energy and high voltage power lines

Minimising Erosion at Solar Farms

Solar farms have the potential to change overland flow and natural hydrological dynamics which can potentially lead to erosion and sedimentation; however, adequate planning and correct site selection can mitigate potential problems. Local knowledge of seasonal changes and soil management needs to be incorporated at each project design and construction stage. There are many ways that a solar farm can be designed to not impact soil and vegetation and not create erosion risks, but instead have positive effects on vegetation growth under and around panels. See Further Resources Section, including Government Guides.

Solar panels with a system designed to rotate to follow the sun have been shown to have less erosion risk under the panels than fixed tilt systems where water runs off the bottom edge of the panel at the same place continually.

Erosion

With wind farms, soil erosion can be minimised through Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), construction practices, revegetation, soil stabilisers, monitoring and remote sensing. (2)

Solar panels with a system designed to rotate to follow the sun have been shown to have less erosion risk than fixed tilt systems where water runs off the bottom edge of the panel at the same place continually.

Solar farms have the potential to change overland flow and natural hydrological dynamics which can potentially lead to erosion and sedimentation; however, adequate planning and correct site selection can mitigate potential problems. Local knowledge of seasonal changes and soil management needs to be incorporated at each project design and construction stage. There are many ways that a solar farm can be designed to not impact soil and vegetation and not create erosion risks, but instead have positive effects on vegetation growth under and around panels. See Further Resources Section, including Government Guides.

Contamination

Risks from potential contamination sources ranges from land clearing through to decommissioning is mitigated through Environmental Management Plans, material selection, including prohibitions and restricted substance management and recycling and disposal considerations. There is a focus on community collaboration and sustainability. (3)

Overall, while wind farms are not a major source of direct water or soil contamination, it’s important to address potential indirect impacts through careful planning, responsible material selection, and effective waste management throughout the wind farm lifecycle. (4)

In the case of solar farms, there is no evidence that solar panels pose a contamination risk to livestock, crops or food production when co-located with agricultural land. (4)

Research has shown that grazing animals, such as sheep, benefit from the shade provided by solar panels, which helps reduce heat stress and improve overall comfort, leading to healthier animals and potentially better-quality products. This practice, known as agrivoltaics, combines agriculture with solar energy production, offering mutual benefits for both farmers and animals. (4)

Solar panels used in Australia today do not pose a contamination risk. They are primarily made from glass, aluminium, polymers and monocrystalline silicon. Less than 1% of the materials used include copper, silver, tin and lead. The chemical layer in a panel is extremely thin—about 3% the thickness of a human hair—and is sealed between two layers of heat-strengthened glass with an industrial laminate. This structure prevents leaching under normal operating conditions. (4, 5)

NO studies have found that solar panels contribute to PFAS contamination.

Risks from cleaning maintenance are reduced with highly effective and biodegradable water-based cleansers especially for solar farms. (6)

Management Plans

Both solar and wind farms proponents develop plans that align with State and Federal environmental laws, and detail how potential impacts like land disturbance and habitat loss will be minimised, monitored, and managed through rehabilitation and potential offsets. (1)

References

1. Queensland Government, Business Queensland, Renewable energy project planning and approvals ( 2025)
2. Moyne Shire Council, Wind energy and high voltage power lines, Environment (2025)
3. Global HSE, TEEDW, Vestas Prohibited and Restricted Substance Management (2022)
4. Clean Energy Council. Soil and water contamination from renewable energy (2025)
5. Jin Il Kwak, Sun-Hwa Nam, Lia Kim, and Youn-Joo An, Potential Environmental Risk of Solar Cells: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges, Journal of Hazardous Materials 392 (2020)
6. Emil Otto, In ‘agri-photovoltaics’, the cleaning of solar panels must be environmentally sustainable (2025)
7. Ecological Australia, Goyder Renewables Zone Project Soil Erosion and Drainage Management Plan Construction Activities (2022)
8. Vestas Wind Systems, Life Cycle Assessments of electricity production from an onshore v163-4.5MW wind plant (2025)