CSIRO and Macquarie University partner with Acen Corp for satellite vegetation management at New England Solar Farm

Type: Partnership · Technology: Solar · Country: Australia · Capacity: 720 MW · Announced: 2026-09-08

CSIRO and Macquarie University have partnered with Acen Corp, the Australian arm of the Philippines-based Acen Corp, to implement satellite-based vegetation management at the 720 MW New England Solar Farm in New South Wales. The researchers are using hyperspectral imagery from Germany's EnMAP satellite to map vegetation growth and fire risk across the 2,000-hectare site, enabling quantitative assessment of biomass distribution around solar assets. The facility, being built in stages, has a 400 MW first stage operational since 2023 and a 320 MW second stage under construction, alongside a 200 MW / 400 MWh battery energy storage system. More than 6,000 sheep are grazing beneath the panels, and the project aims to balance agricultural activities with day-to-day solar facility operations. The initiative demonstrates how renewable energy projects can serve as partners in rural land stewardship, creating shared value for landholders, communities, and the clean energy sector.

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