A quarry in Florennes, Wallonia, is combining solar power with sheep farming in a 3.3-hectare agrivoltaic project.
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quarry → combine → project
Calcaires Agri Énergie, in partnership with Ether Energy, developed the project, which places 3,240 photovoltaic panels above land used for sheep grazing.
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which → develop → grazing
The panels have a total capacity of 2.27 MWc and are raised above the ground with six-metre gaps between them.
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panels → have → them
According to the etherr.a, this layout allows sheep to graze beneath the installation while receiving protection from the weather.
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sheep → accord → weather
The project is designed to produce 2.33 GWh of electricity each year.
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project → design → electricity
The electricity will power the Calcaires de Florennes quarry, with the surplus supplied to the public grid.
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surplus → power → grid
The project also includes plans to create a renewable energy community.
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project → include → community
How the Belgian quarry project supports both solar power and sheep farming
The agrivoltaic project is located north of the Calcaires de Florennes quarry in Wallonia.
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project → support → Wallonia
It was developed by Calcaires Agri Énergie in partnership with Ether Energy.
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It → develop → Energy
The installation covers 3.3 hectares and combines renewable electricity production with sheep farming.
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installation → cover → farming
A total of 3,240 photovoltaic panels have been installed, with a capacity of 2.27 MWc.
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total → instal → MWc
The panels cover 45% of the land.
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panels → cover → land
They are raised above the ground and positioned six metres apart.
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They → raise → ground
This arrangement leaves space for sheep to graze beneath the panels.
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sheep → leave → panels
The project also aims to preserve the agricultural role of the land while producing renewable energy.
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project → aim → energy
It supports farming through a partnership with the Grand-Bois farm in Gerpinnes.
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It → support → Gerpinnes
This setup combines electricity production with sheep farming.
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setup → combine → farming
PC: Wikipedia
The project supports sheep farming in Wallonia
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project → support → Wallonia
The solar panels are arranged to keep the land suitable for sheep grazing.
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panels → arrange → grazing
They are installed at a height that allows the animals to move beneath them, while six-metre spacing between the panels leaves space for grazing.
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spacing → instal → grazing
The project description says this setup allows the animals to graze freely below the solar installation.
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animals → say → installation
This setup allows the land to support both sheep grazing and solar power generation.
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land → allow → grazing
The project supports extensive sheep farming and aims to help relocate sheep farming in Wallonia.
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project → support → Wallonia
The project notes that this provides a local alternative to imports, which account for more than 80% of the mutton consumed in Belgium.
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which → note → Belgium
Reduce the quarry’s carbon footprint
The installation is expected to produce 2.33 GWh of electricity each year.
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installation → reduce → electricity
The electricity will be used to power the activities of the Calcaires de Florennes quarry, helping reduce its dependence on the grid.
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electricity → use → grid
The site will directly use some of the electricity produced by the panels.
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site → use → panels
The remaining electricity is intended for the public grid and can cover the needs of approximately 225 households.
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electricity → remain → households
The solar installation is also expected to help reduce the quarry’s overall carbon footprint by avoiding 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.
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installation → expect → emissions
The project goes beyond electricity generation by including measures linked to agriculture and biodiversity.
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project → go → agriculture
It is designed to support extensive sheep farming while keeping the land in agricultural use.
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It → design → use
The project notes that the approach helps preserve local biodiversity through extensive farming practices and natural features.
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approach → note → practices
It also plans to create a Renewable Energy Community.
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It → plan → Community
The project has been designed for a period of 30 years and is described as fully reversible.
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project → design → years
The project aims to provide an additional source of income for the farmer while supporting agriculture.
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project → aim → agriculture
The Aporia
