Terabase Energy, the creator of Terafab, an automated platform for utility-scale solar installations, has completed its inaugural commercial installation. The company’s “field factory” employed Terafab to install 17 MW of a larger 225 MW solar project in Arizona, developed by Leeward Renewable Energy in collaboration with engineering and construction contractor RES.

The Terafab system integrates digital twins, logistics software, an on-site digital command center, a field-deployed automated assembly line, and installation rovers capable of continuous operation 24/7.

In comparison to manual installation, Terabase reported a 25% improvement in labor productivity for the Arizona project.

Will Schultek, RES Vice President of Construction, noted that the project demonstrates Terabase’s ability to significantly enhance safety, quality, cost, and scheduling in solar construction.

The installation system not only reduces on-site labor requirements but also enhances working conditions for workers. Laborers can operate in shaded and cooled environments, facilitating system operation and installation in challenging desert conditions.

This innovation in utility-scale solar project installation has the potential to address the labor demands of the growing solar industry. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) estimates a need for 800,000 new solar workers by 2030 to align with the United States’ decarbonization plan. However, 44% of solar industry employers find it “very difficult” to locate qualified applicants, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

Terabase’s field factory additionally achieved a 100% return on solar panel packaging, contributing to sustainability efforts by allowing reuse.

Sam Mangrum, Leeward Renewable Energy Executive Vice President of Project Execution, emphasized the transformative potential of automation in solar, citing the project’s benefits.

Terabase Energy CEO Matt Campbell sees this achievement as a pivotal moment in their mission to expedite solar plant deployment to meet future terawatt-scale demands. Furthermore, the Terafab system was utilized in conjunction with Construct digital twin software, enhancing the management and monitoring of solar power plant construction.