Robots Building Solar Farms: Addressing Skills Shortage and Costs
Robots are entering the solar industry, automating tasks like panel assembly to address labor shortages and reduce costs. Learn about the benefits.
The solar industry is embracing automation with robots now being used to build solar farms. Companies like Planted Solar and Built Robotics are developing robots for various construction tasks, from site preparation to module installation. Amazon, for instance, is already using this technology for a solar park powering its data centers. Benefits of Automation Several factors are driving the adoption of robots in solar farm construction: Increased Efficiency: Robots often work faster and more accurately than humans, leading to shorter construction times. Cost Reduction: Companies like AES claim robots can halve construction costs. Reduced Labor Needs: Automation addresses the ongoing labor shortage in the construction industry. Smaller Footprint: Robot-assisted construction can require less land for solar farms. "We want to automate to save money. The labor shortage will just force it faster." - Evan Riley, White Pine Renewables Challenges of Automation Despite the benefits, some cha…