Satellites Tame Fire Risk on Aussie Solar Farm

Satellite imaging gives a live fire‑risk map for New England Solar Farm

The New England Solar Farm in northern New South Wales now has a quantitative, satellite‑driven fire‑risk map that updates regularly. Researchers from CSIRO and Macquarie University feed hyperspectral data from Germany’s EnMAP satellite into AI models, turning grass height, moisture and biomass into a risk score that tells the operator where fire‑prone fuel is accumulating. This replaces the old manual walk‑around inspections and lets the farm’s 6,000 grazing sheep be managed safely under 720 MW of panels.

AI and hyperspectral data turn grass into numbers

By analysing the spectral signature of each square metre, the system can distinguish moist, low‑risk grass from dry, highly flammable fuel. CSIRO principal research scientist Cindy Ong explains that the biochemical detail lets the operator see how biomass is distributed around critical assets such as transformers and cabling. The AI then produces a numeric fire‑risk index that can be over‑laid on a map, highlighting zones that need grazing or mechanical slashing. According to Energy Magazine, PhD student Nona Sepahrom says the approach is “a new quantitative, repeatable system using satellites, airborne data, and field measurements to map vegetation fire risk across the entire site – and update it regularly.”

Balancing grazing, fire safety and solar output

The 2,000‑hectare site hosts more than 6,000 sheep, roughly three animals per hectare, a density that keeps the grass short enough to reduce fire fuel while still providing a viable agricultural income. The 400 MW first stage, operational since 2023, and the upcoming 320 MW second stage are both protected by a 200 MW/400 MWh battery that can store about two hours of generation, giving operators a buffer to shut down panels in an emergency. Gallagher Insurance notes that “comprehensive risk management for solar farms now includes remote‑sensing fire‑hazard assessments” (Gallagher Insurance). The new system therefore aligns three goals: (1) keep the fire risk low, (2) maintain high solar availability, and (3) preserve the farm’s grazing revenue.

What it means for Israel

Israel’s solar sector can borrow this playbook. A typical 10 kWp rooftop system in central Israel yields about 17,000 kWh per year, worth roughly ₪8,160 at the residential tariff of ₪0.48 /kWh, and pays back in about 3.9 years on a ₪31,500 install cost. If a 10 MW agrivoltaic farm were to adopt the same satellite‑AI workflow, the same principle applies: continuous, data‑driven monitoring would let owners spot dry vegetation before it ignites, schedule targeted grazing or mowing, and avoid costly shutdowns. Using Israel’s typical yield of 1,700 kWh/kWp·yr, a 10 MW array would generate around 17 GWh annually – enough to power tens of thousands of homes – and a fire‑risk‑reduction system could protect that value from the increasing bush‑fire‑like threats seen in the Negev. Operators could feed EnMAP‑style data into local AI platforms, leveraging the same quantitative risk scores that CSIRO uses, thereby extending the economic life of assets and supporting rural land‑stewardship.

Future outlook for solar‑agri integration

The New England project demonstrates that high‑capacity solar farms can coexist with productive agriculture when advanced remote sensing is applied. As climate change intensifies fire seasons across Australia – documented in a 24‑year Queensland study that shows a clear upward trend in fire frequency and severity (IOPscience) – the need for repeatable, satellite‑based risk models will only grow. CSIRO’s National Bushfire Intelligence Capability already integrates such data into national fire‑management planning (CSIRO NBIC Fact Sheet), suggesting that similar frameworks could be rolled out to solar farms worldwide, from the arid outbacks of Australia to Israel’s desert‑edge installations.

How you can see the technology in action

For larger developers, the EnMAP‑type hyperspectral data is becoming commercially available, and AI platforms can ingest it to produce daily fire‑risk dashboards. Check out our solar ROI calculator and the latest market data on solar installations to see how these tools could improve your own project's safety and profitability.

Sources & further reading

• First-of-its-kind research balances the needs of solar farms and grazing - Energy Magazine
• National Bushfire Intelligence Capability - CSIRO Research
• Climate-driven fire regime transformation in Queensland: a 24-year multi-seasonal assessment using satellite remote sensing (2001–2024) - IOPscience
• SECURING SOLAR FARMS FROM WILDFIRE THREATS AND FIRE HAZARDS Energy
• Satellite remote sensing of active fires: History and current status, applications and future requirements | US Forest Service Research and Development