EDP, the developer, is currently testing a robotic construction solution on a 122MW PV power plant located in Valladolid, Spain. The aim of this pilot project is to substantially reduce the construction timeline of the plant.

The innovative Hyperflex technology, created by Italian robotics expert Comau, is set to be implemented on a 3MW segment of the Peñaflor project. The objective is to reduce the duration required for the structural assembly phase of the project by half.

In the realm of PV power plant construction, automated on-site production technologies are surfacing as a fresh frontier of innovation. Beyond enhancing specific facets of the construction process, mobile assembly stations are also regarded as a solution to labor shortages and a method to enhance on-site safety for workers by shouldering some of the strenuous construction tasks.

For the Peñaflor project, a mobile factory will prefabricate the PV system structure, while a rover will then transport this pre-assembled structure to its designated spot for installation.

António Coutinho, CEO of EDP Innovation, expressed the company’s commitment to accelerating the construction of solar parks, improving efficiency, ensuring safety, and promoting sustainability through their investment in this groundbreaking solution.

Coutinho mentioned, “The trial run at Peñaflor marks the initial phase of integrating automation solutions into EDP’s extensive solar strategy. EDP aims to evolve this into a worldwide and cohesive process, creating competitive edges across all company operations and empowering our workforce for higher-skilled tasks.”

Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Comau, emphasized the significance and benefits of automation in the renewable energy sector, specifically in solar panel installation, during the collaboration with EDP. By leveraging their cutting-edge technology, Comau empowers customers and partners to achieve superior quality, enhanced efficiency, and reduced costs, thereby facilitating the realization of sustainable solar energy goals.

Quality control

Automated construction technologies are attracting attention in the PV industry not only for their efficiency and site safety advantages but also for the enhancements they bring to installation quality management.

According to Matt Campbell, CEO of Terabase, a US-based company at the forefront of on-site production line technology, their Terafab system achieved an impressive record of zero breakages during the assembly of 16,000 PV modules last year. This remarkable achievement stands in stark contrast to the average breakage rates of up to 3% associated with human installers.