Automatic installation equipment for photovoltaic panels

What is a solar installation robot?

The AES Corporation today announced the launch of Atlas, a new first-of-its-kind solar installation robot. Atlas represents a major advancement in solar energy technology, making it faster, more efficient and safer to construct new solar facilities.

How does a robot install solar panels?

Suction cups grip the glass face of the solar panels and the arm swings them into place, guided by cameras that give the robot a three-dimensional view of the scene. The robot’s limitations give a glimpse of how hard it’s going to be to completely automate the installation process.

Can robots install ground-mounted solar panels?

Now companies such as PV Kraftwerker and Gehrlicher in Germany are developing mobile robots that can automatically install ground-mounted solar panels day and night, in all sorts of weather. PV Kraftwerker’s robot is designed to assemble power-plant-grade solar panels, which are four times the size of the ones you’d see on a home.

How many solar panels does a utility plant need?

A single utility solar plant may require the installation of several hundred thousand solar panels. Staging, placing, and securing panels onto mounting structures represents some of the most repetitive and time-consuming processes in solar installation.

How much does it cost to install solar panels?

According to PV Kraftwerker, a construction firm specializing in solar parks, installations that used to require 35 workers can now be done with just three workers in an eighth the time. For a 14-megawatt solar plant, the company estimates, it might cost about $2 million to install the panels manually.

Can Maximo install solar panels in half the cost?

According to the IEA, by 2035, solar annual additions are expected to triple, and the workforce will need to nearly double. Maximo can install solar panels in half the time and half the cost, working together with on-the-ground crews to accelerate renewable energy deployment, reducing time-to-power for customers.