Sarcos, supplier of advanced robot systems and leading installer of sustainable energy Blattner Company has signed a collaboration agreement to further develop and refine Sarcos’ autonomous robotic solar construction system, which is designed for the installation of solar panels in utility-scale solar projects.
Currently, most solar construction practices involve many time-consuming tasks such as preparing palletized modules, manual installation, and post-installation cleanup. However, Sarcos’ robotic system can deliver, detect, lift and place solar panels in the field, and assist with this accelerate construction speed, improve installation quality, and increase worker safety and productivity.
Like many other industries, the solar construction industry is also facing significant labor shortages in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, slowing the progress of many U.S. solar initiatives. Sarcos’ autonomous robotic solar construction system “is expected to alleviate these workforce challenges while improving overall safety and speed in the solar installation process,” explained Laura Peterson, interim president and CEO of Sarcos.
In fact, Sarcos’ robotic solution was born from the prototype developed for the Sarcos Outdoor Autonomous Manipulation of Photovoltaic Panels (O-AMPP) project, supported by the US Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). The company completed the final validation of the project in March, and this collaboration with Blattner will focus on further optimizing worker safety and plant efficiency, which will be conducted through a series of field trials involving Blattner funding, expertise and test facilities will be provided. .
Testing under varying environmental conditions at different locations is also considered a crucial step in preparing for the system’s commercial launch in late 2024.
Much research evidence indicates that utility-scale solar projects are a critical contributor to increasing solar capacity and reducing solar prices. Introducing robotics solutions in this area will strengthen the role of utility-scale solar in the energy transition process while providing valuable data for evaluating the potential of automation and workforce evolution within other projects/segments in the industry.
