The American electric contractor Rossendin is planning to demonstrate the installation of robot-like solar module at a large-scale solar energy project under construction in Texas.
Rosendin, an electric contract company, announced that its Renewable Energy Group (Reg) will demonstrate its new autonomous robot solution for solar module installation on April 17 in West -Texas.
The three -part robot system is said to be able to install solar modules three times faster than its human counterparts, while it also improves the safety of employees and tackling the persistent industry.
The labor shortage is more critical than ever as energy installations increase to try to meet the incredible rising tax demand caused by the proliferation of data centers and electrification. In one Recent webinar Led by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rich Stinson, President and CEO of Southwire, a wire and cable manufacturer established in Chicago, identified the shortage of labor as one of the “chokpoints” to meet the unprecedented demand growth.
Reg-operators will show Lidar-based obstacle detection and avoidance, maneuverability on uneven terrain and positioning of solar panels Rossendin, reports that the robots can place the modules within 2 mm with the help of GPS and KMZ mapping.
It is also shown how competent electrical teams work with the robot system to install the solar modules.
In earlier field tests on a similar solar project, Rosendin said that robots that work with a two -man crew reached an installation speed that was equal to 350 to 400 modules per eight -hour service. Rosendin reported that this is three times the speed of a standard three to four-person crew that installs modules manually.
“We have created a solution that triggers a revolution in the installation of renewable energy facilities worldwide by offering safer, faster, repeatable and more cost-effective means to use solar installations in remote locations,” said David Lincoln, senior vice-president of Rosendin. “Countless hours have been spent on the development and testing of technology on solar facilities on utility scale, resulting in a robotics system that will help electricians and will reduce the risk of staff injuries and at the same time tackle the staff shortage of the construction sector for decades.”
The robots were developed by Rossendin in a partnership with ULC Technologies, a New York developer of robot solutions for the energy industry.
The hybrid gas and battery-driven system includes a panel setting robot, a followed robot platform with build quality with an integrated robot arm and nine-vacuum suction cups to lift and install solar panels. Two paneling robots transfer pallets of solar modules between the loading area and the installation point.
The robotic machines are reportedly up to 100 pounds. While they do heavy lifting, human electricians focus on securing the critical grid connections.
Rosendin said the working prototype was designed to withstand environmental elements, including extreme temperatures, wind and rain, puddles and mud, and uneven and steep rocky terrain to a slope of 30 degrees.
In the past 15 years, Rosendin reported that it has delivered almost 7 GW of solar project installations in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, with more than 7 GW in different stages of development and more than 2.5 GW under construction. The Rossendin portfolio comprises medium-sized to large-scale commercial and utility-grade solar farms, including the Renewable Power Project Aktina in Texas, the Solar-Plus-Storage project in Nevada and the Renewable Energy Project in California.
Developers and managers are invited to witness the demonstration in West -Texas. Information is available here.
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