Tyson Foods, Auburn University to build first stand-alone solar-powered poultry house
The data and insights gleaned from this project will help in identifying sustainable practices and new forms of energy for the poultry industry at large.
Tyson Foods Inc., Springdale, Ark., partnered with Auburn University’s National Poultry Technology Center (NPTC) to open what is said to be the largest stand-alone solar-powered poultry house to be operated completely off the grid. The 54x500-foot poultry house is located in Cullman County, Ala., and capable of housing 36,000 broilers.
The poultry house will be one of two identical houses on Tim and Selena Butts’ farm where 5.50-pound broilers will be grown. One house will be the control house while the other will be operated exclusively by solar power, also known as Stand-Alone Solar for Poultry (SASP).