By Mallory Tope, former staff member
Renewable energy is boosting agricultural innovation, with farmers and ranchers finding new ways to integrate solar power into their operations. Huwa Enterprises, based in Keenesburg, Colorado, is taking a unique approach by combining solar panels with cattle grazing.
The new approach to dual-use solar is being called “cattle voltaics.” Dual-use solar is the practice of combining agricultural operations with solar energy generation, which has already been successfully integrated with crops, pollinator gardens, beekeeping, and sheep grazing.
“There is a lot of talk in the industry about whether you are pro-ag or pro-energy,” said Brent Huwa, owner of Huwa Enterprises. “What’s cool for us is we’re saying, look, we don't have to choose, we can do both.”
Huwa Enterprises operates a 6,000-acre farm with 600 Black Angus cattle. With a history in ranching, reclamation, and renewable energy, they wanted to find a way to merge each aspect.
“We got tired of talking about [cattle with solar] and going to conferences and listening to people tell us all the reasons why it wouldn’t work,” said Josh Bennett, agrimation executive at Huwa Enterprises.
To demonstrate the viability of cattle voltaics, Huwa Enterprises set up a test site with solar panels and 100 yearling cattle.
“We ran 2,000-pound bulls [with the solar arrays] for a while just to prove a point that we could actually do it, and they wouldn’t tear it up,” Brent said.
Since their initial test in 2023, Huwa Enterprises has completed three successful utility-scale projects with cattle grazing and is now helping new and existing solar projects integrate livestock.
“We’re working on helping people design new solar array systems that will accommodate cattle,” said Josh. “We are also working on existing projects, going in there and making a few modifications so that we can run the cattle.”
Cattle voltaics allow farmers and ranchers to optimize land use by maintaining livestock operations while hosting renewable energy projects and creating additional income from solar land leases.
The integration of cattle grazing with solar arrays offers numerous benefits to landowners and developers. The shade from panels reduces cattle heat stress, improving weight gain, milk production, and livestock health. Grazing enhances soil health and forage quality while promoting long-term land restoration.
For energy developers, cattle voltaics lower vegetation maintenance costs and enable more active on-site monitoring by farmers and ranchers.
Huwa Enterprises collaborates with solar developers, landowners, and vegetation maintenance teams to design grazing plans that align with energy production. By tailoring each project to site-specific factors—such as soil, seed mix, and cattle type—they help reduce challenges before construction begins.
“Early involvement [from all parties] and recognizing that it is a partnership are the core elements to be successful,” Josh said. “Getting involved in the early stages of design helps you mitigate a lot of issues that might come if you jump in and you’re already at 60% design.”
For agricultural landowners looking to diversify income while maintaining production, combining cattle grazing with solar energy offers a unique opportunity. By addressing site-specific challenges and collaborating early with energy developers, producers can maximize land use efficiency and enhance soil health and cattle productivity.
Photo credit: Huwa Enterprises
This blog was originally published March 24, 2025, and updated July 22, 2025.
