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Leapting will soon deploy a photovoltaic module assembly robot at a project in Australia. It claims the AI-controlled machine’s automatic installation speed can reach one panel per minute, resulting in an estimated 30% reduction in installation costs for large-scale solar projects. The first of Chinese company Leapting’s AI-powered solar module assembly robots to be deployed in Australia will be used to install panels at a 350MW solar farm being built in New South Wales. Leapting, a high-tech company specialising in intelligent automation for the photovoltaic industry, has announced that it will supply a self-navigating PV module assembly robot to accelerate the construction of the 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm being built in the Riverina region of New South Wales. The project is being built by French renewables and battery storage developer Neoen on a site of approximately 1,000 hectares near Culcairn, about 45km north of Albury. It is expected to be operational in 2026. According to Leapting, its autonomous PV module assembly robot, which will go into operation later this month, will enable full automation of the module installation process, increasing efficiency, reducing labor costs and shortening construction time. “This robot can autonomously stack and lift modules layer by layer, organizing each set and installing each module individually,” the company explains, noting that the automatic installation speed can reach 60 modules per hour. “This significantly reduces the time and economic costs associated with traditional manual installation, shortens the overall construction cycle of the project, and allows the power plant to be put into operation more quickly, thereby generating energy benefits sooner.” The machine features a tracked chassis, fully automated navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, and is equipped with a solar panel tray. It uses a robotic arm to pick and place solar panels onto solar mounts. The AI ??vision recognition system accurately “identifies” the position of the solar brackets and calculates their location relative to the torsion tube. This ensures accurate placement and fixing of the panels, completing the installation process. Tests have shown that the installation speed can reach one panel per minute. Leapting estimates that manual installation of a module typically requires three to four people and takes 15 minutes from transporting the modules to securing them to the supports. “Compared to traditional manual installation methods, automated installation not only significantly increases efficiency, but also reduces the safety risks associated with manual work, with an estimated 30% reduction in installation costs,” the company said. “The intelligent installation method clearly offers a more efficient alternative.” Leapting confirmed that it has already shipped the module assembly robot to Australia and that the machine is expected to arrive in the coming days, when it will be sent to the project site to carry out approximately one week of commissioning work. We expect installation and operation to officially begin in mid-February, the company said. In addition to the module assembly robot, Leapting also offers other automated products focused on PV, such as a module cleaning robot and a module inspection robot. Leapting expects its products to be of particular interest to independent power producers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies in the Australian market, which it described as a high-labour-cost region that would benefit from increased use of automation and AI in operations and maintenance. |
