Powering Sustainable Agriculture: Vecor’s Role in the RMIT Smart Greenhouse Project
By: Sajjad Mofarah, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist | Vecor Technologies
Senior Research Associate | School of Materials Science & Engineering
Proud to See Innovative Sustainable Technology in Action
Vecor Technologies is proud to be mentioned in the Australian Research Council (ARC) update on the RMIT-led Smart Greenhouse project, recently featured in The Australian.
This landmark initiative brings together advanced renewable energy technologies and innovative materials to create self-sustaining and affordable greenhouses. By integrating new automated decision-making tools for farmers, the project aims to pioneer solutions in renewable energy use, plant quality improvement, and intelligent greenhouse monitoring and analysis, unlocking the vast potential of protected cropping.
Project Overview – A Landmark in Agrivoltaics
The RMIT-led Smart Greenhouse project is part of a $20 million ARC-backed research initiative bringing together 17 academic and industry partners. The project will:
Harness Renewable energy using ClearVue Technologies solar glazing PV panels to power greenhouse operations.
Optimise plant growth and energy use through smart energy management and spectral control, balancing sunlight for crops while generating electricity.
Store renewable power in an integrated energy storage system featuring graphene supercapacitors commercialised by RMIT.
Ensure long-term, continuous power supply for greenhouse operations using Vecor Technologies’ sodium ion battery (SIB).
Enhance efficiency with AI by monitoring, controlling, and predicting crop production as well as energy and resource consumption.
Advance sensing technologies by developing a novel IoT-powered system tailored for Australian greenhouses.
Vecor’s Contributions to the ARC Smart Greenhouse Project
Vecor plays a critical role in advancing the 24/7 operation of a fully renewable energy system through its leading SIB technology. Powered by patented novel electrode chemistries, Vecor’s high-performance SIBs offer a sustainable solution for large-scale energy storage. The advanced, non-toxic, fully recyclable, and sustainable SIB technology will be integrated with AgriPV systems to deliver continuous, on-site renewable energy for greenhouse operations, ensuring reliable performance during day and night.
In addition, Advanced Carbon Engineering Pty Ltd (ACE) has committed to supporting this initiative through land acquisition and direct financial investment, enabling the installation of these renewable energy technologies in greenhouses in close collaboration with Vecor.
Why This Matters for Sustainable Agriculture
As climate pressures grow and demand for food increases, the agriculture sector faces urgent challenges:
Decarbonisation of farming operations.
Water conservation and efficiency improvements.
Circular economy integration in agricultural supply chains.
The RMIT Smart Greenhouse offers a scalable model for addressing these challenges, showing how renewable energy, advanced materials, and integrated climate systems can deliver more sustainable, resilient food production.
Partners Driving Change
This collaborative effort includes leaders in research, agriculture, and technology:
Advanced Carbon Engineering
By linking to partner organisations, we aim to strengthen awareness, foster collaboration, and encourage reciprocal visibility.
Learn More & Connect
Vecor Technologies is proud to support innovation in sustainable materials and renewable energy solutions. Our work in sustainable materials and renewable technologies aligns perfectly with the goals of projects like the RMIT-led ARC grant on Smart Greenhouse, where technology and sustainability go hand in hand.
🔗 Learn more about our solutions at Vecor Technologies
