Key Takeaways
- Silicon Ranch officially launched CattleTracker™ at the Christiana Solar Ranch in Middle Tennessee, marking the first-ever commercial deployment of a patented cattle-compatible agrivoltaics platform designed to co-locate a legitimate beef cattle ranching operation with a commercially viable utility-scale solar energy facility.
- The platform is enabled by two patents awarded to Silicon Ranch following a multi-year research effort led by CTO Nick de Vries, who developed a novel tracking system that moves into a “grazing mode” allowing cattle to safely move and graze beneath the solar panels.
- Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) — the largest electric cooperative in the TVA region and second largest in the United States — is purchasing the power and environmental attributes from the facility to benefit more than 750,000 Tennesseans across 11 counties, realizing savings from day one of operation.
- CattleTracker uses entirely U.S.-made materials and technology, including solar panels from First Solar’s northern Alabama manufacturing plant and low-carbon steel tracker components from Nextpower’s Memphis, Tennessee facility, reflecting Silicon Ranch’s 15-year commitment to domestic supply chain sourcing.
- The CattleTracker research team — active since 2023 and including Graze, Quanterra Systems, Colorado State University, and White Oak Pastures — has published its findings in peer-reviewed academic journals, with advisory committee support from DNV, University of Georgia, Michigan State University, and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Silicon Ranch Deploys First Commercial Cattle Agrivoltaics System at Christiana Solar Ranch
Silicon Ranch officially launched CattleTracker™ at the Christiana Solar Ranch in Middle Tennessee, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Silicon Ranch and Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) leadership, local officials, animal science and ecosystem researchers, and agricultural and conservation organizations. The Christiana facility is the first commercial deployment of Silicon Ranch’s patented cattle-compatible agrivoltaics platform — and the first project of its size anywhere in the world to combine a legitimate cattle ranching operation with a commercially viable solar energy installation. Silicon Ranch funded, built, and will own, operate, and maintain the facility long-term.
“CattleTracker was born at the intersection of American energy, American manufacturing, and American farming — all areas that are under tremendous pressure to evolve and grow in this country,” said Reagan Farr, Co-founder and CEO of Silicon Ranch. “We have long believed that doing what’s right for our country, our grid, and our economy can also benefit our land, our animals, and our farmers. The innovation we celebrate today represents the tangible application of that belief and our commitment to make it possible.”
Patented CattleTracker™ Technology Enables Safe Cattle Grazing Beneath Solar Panels
The CattleTracker™ platform was made possible by a multi-year research program led by Silicon Ranch CTO Nick de Vries, who served as Principal Investigator and developed a novel solar tracker system engineered to move into “grazing mode” — repositioning panels to allow cattle to safely graze and move freely beneath the array. Silicon Ranch was awarded two patents for the resulting technology. The project extends Silicon Ranch’s existing Regenerative Energy® program, which already operates rotational sheep grazing at its solar facilities nationally, into the beef cattle sector, while delivering energy at wholesale pricing to ensure the innovation remains financially viable for ratepayers.
“As a researcher, what’s most exciting about CattleTracker is that it brings rigor and real-world validation to agrivoltaics at a commercial scale,” said Dr. Anna Clare Monlezun, Founder of Graze, LLC and La Dolce Vita Ranch, and a member of the CattleTracker research team. “At the Christiana Solar Farm, we’re demonstrating that thoughtfully designed solar infrastructure can support normal, healthy beef cattle behavior, align with animal welfare standards, and enhance land stewardship while also delivering reliable energy.”
Silicon Ranch Partners with Middle Tennessee Electric to Power 750,000 Tennesseans
Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE), the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, is purchasing the power and environmental attributes generated by the Christiana facility. MTE serves more than 750,000 Tennesseans across 11 counties and begins realizing cost savings immediately upon operation.
“This first-of-its-kind project is doing more than generating much-needed electricity for our service area — it’s proving a technology that supports local agriculture and helps put food on the table,” said Chris Jones, President and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric. “At MTE, we’re proud to bring this kind of innovative solution to our members — combining reliable, affordable energy with the values that matter most to the communities we serve.”
U.S. Manufacturing Partners and Multi-Institution Research Team Anchor the Platform
CattleTracker™ is built entirely with U.S.-made materials and technology. Silicon Ranch partnered with First Solar, whose recently opened solar panel manufacturing plant in northern Alabama supplies the facility, and Nextpower, which manufactures the low-carbon steel tracker components at its Memphis, Tennessee facility. The research team, active in the field since 2023, includes Graze, Quanterra Systems, Colorado State University, and White Oak Pastures, with advisory support from the National Laboratory of the Rockies, DNV, University of Georgia, Michigan State University, Standard Soil & Blue Nest Beef, and SEIA. Research findings have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The Christiana facility also advances Silicon Ranch’s Regenerative Energy® land stewardship program, which promotes multi-species grasses, pollinator habitat, and new agricultural opportunities for family farms on its solar properties.
