ARENA invests in software and robotics to lower cost of solar

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed over AU$3.2 million (US$2.8 million) in funding to two solar projects that will help lower the cost of solar power.

The two projects are; PV Lighthouse, which will receive $1.97 million (US$1.3 million) in funding for its project to expand its SunSolve yield modelling software, and Built Robotics Australia, which will receive $1.3 million (US$850,000) towards its autonomous piling robots project.

ARENA is looking to reduce the installed cost of a solar project to just 30 cents per watt and reach an LCOE below $20 (US$13.03) per megawatt hour by 2030.

Investing in projects like this will help achieve that aim, suggests ARENA CEO Darren Miller, as they make solar more efficient and cost effective.

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Said Miller in a release: “Ultra low-cost solar is Australia’s key to achieving the renewable energy transition and reaching our net zero goals. Automation and efficiency are both leading tools in driving down costs. Both projects are exploring innovative approaches to doing just this."

PV Lighthouse’s project is improving the existing SunSolve software, which employs a simulation environment that models the physics from solar cell right through to annual yield. These improvements will increase the accuracy of power output forecasts and reduce uncertainty and risk during planning and development.

Keith McIntosh, founder and CEO of PV Lighthouse and SunSolve said: “Before SunSolve existed, developers did not have a modelling solution that could accurately represent their structures and modules. This meant they had to guesstimate several of the loss factors required for their yield forecasts. Now developers can rapidly calculate these factors with SunSolve, giving them greater confidence in their forecasts – a key advantage when negotiating project financing.”

Built Robotics’ project, touted as an Australian first, will automate the pile driving processes associated with constructing utility-scale solar farms.

Built Robotics claims the design and piloting of first and second-generation prototype robots have the potential to reduce piling time and labour costs by approximately 82% and 88% respectively, ultimately boosting installation efficiency.

“Australia is a technology hub for renewable energy, and Built Robotics is honoured to be working with ARENA to continue inventing better ways of building solar farms,” says Paul Kelly, general manager and VP of Business Development at Built Robotics.

“By helping to automate the most repetitive and difficult tasks on job sites, Built’s robots aim to lower the cost of energy, accelerate construction and provide safer working conditions for skilled workers.”