SB Energy Corp announced Oct 10, 2014, that it will start to use goats for weeding at a mega (large-scale) solar power plant in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, Japan, on a trial basis.
SB Energy (Minato Ward, Tokyo), which is affiliated with the Softbank Group, runs businesses related to renewable energies. The name of the plant is "Softbank Tottori Yonago Solar Park."
The weeding will be tested in about 900m2 of area around "Tottori Shizen Kankyou Kan (Natural Environment Center)," which was built near the power plant, and a parking lot from Oct 17, 2014, with two goats.
Tottori Yonago Solar Park, an SPC (special purpose company) established by SB Energy and Mitsui & Co Ltd, is the power producer for the plant. The test will be performed by the SPC and Daikyo-gumi, a construction company based in Yonago City, as part of the plant's pro-environment efforts.
Compared with weeding methods using an engine-powered mower or herbicide, weeding by goats is expected to reduce environmental loads such as noise, CO2 emissions, soil pollution, etc. It is also expected to give comfort to local residents and promote their understanding of environments.
SB Energy will pasture the goats from Oct 17 to Nov 30, 2014, to examine (1) the weeding effect on the vegetation at the site, (2) safety comparison between the new weeding method and methods using machines, (3) quality of weeding, (4) therapy effects, etc.
There are an increasing number of mega solar plants that use goats or sheep for weeding. At a plant that The Japan Wool Textile Co Ltd built in Inami-chou, Hyogo Prefecture, sheep have already started to be used for weeding (See related article). Also, a mega solar plant that Seibu Railway Co Ltd runs in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, is planning to use goats for weeding.
