Energy workers replaced lawnmowers with sheep and cows in Germany

Energy workers replaced lawnmowers with sheep and cows in Germany linkedin.com/company/50hertz-transmission-gmbh
Katerina Belousova

Vegetation is usually mowed every summer by machines or by hand

In Germany, in Thuringia and Saxony, sheep and cows help power workers clear areas near overhead power lines of grass and bushes.

In the country, the projects Sheep and Electricity and Livestock Instead of Machines were created, within the framework of which they plan to use the territories under power lines as pastures, reports Ukrenergo on Telegram.

They were created by transmission system operator 50Hertz together with distribution system operator MITNETZ STROM and environmental organizations.

Usually, unwanted vegetation is mowed every summer by machines, and in difficult places by hand.

Animals eat grass and bushes, thus clearing the area under and near high-voltage power lines. This must be done every year according to safety rules, so that a sudden electric discharge does not ignite a tree or bush and start a fire.

It helps to create and maintain unique green environments that are home to many species of insects, birds and animals.

Currently, in Saxony, 300 sheep and goats maintain order under the high-voltage network, and in the territory along the line between Saxony and Thuringia, five cows of the Dexter breed are responsible for safety and environmental protection.

As EcoPolitic reported before, in Bavaria (land of the Federal Republic of Germany) ecologists discovered boars infected with Chernobyl radiation.

Related
Revolutionary changes in the EU: governments want to make it compulsory to reinvest 75% of ETS revenues in decarbonisation
Revolutionary changes in the EU: governments want to make it compulsory to reinvest 75% of ETS revenues in decarbonisation

The rationale behind this proposal is to support the eco-modernisation of enterprises, which generate revenue for the system and bear the brunt of the fiscal pressure

Are activists not citizens? The Environmental Inspectorate has refused to carry out an inspection of the wind farm on the Runa mountain pasture
Are activists not citizens? The Environmental Inspectorate has refused to carry out an inspection of the wind farm on the Runa mountain pasture

Environmental campaigners regard this as an excuse, as the results of such requests have previously even been used as evidence in court

The number of jobs in the ‘green’ energy sector is growing faster than the labour market as a whole — EEA report
The number of jobs in the ‘green’ energy sector is growing faster than the labour market as a whole — EEA report

The wind energy sector employs the most people and also offers the highest salaries

Ukraine has ranked seventh in Europe for the growth rate of wind energy: who is ahead?
Ukraine has ranked seventh in Europe for the growth rate of wind energy: who is ahead?

Europe’s total wind power capacity stands at 311 GW