Australia Funds Domestic Manufacturing Of Solar Construction Robotics

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed up to $31.1 million in funding to establish manufacturing facilities for solar construction robotics in Melbourne and Brisbane. Supported under the second round of the Solar Sunshot Program, the initiative aims to improve the safety and efficiency of large-scale solar farm development by producing autonomous systems for panel installation and foundation piling.

Luminous Robotics will receive up to $17.8 million to set up a facility in Melbourne dedicated to producing its autonomous solar panel installation robots, known as LUMIs. The project is expected to result in the manufacture and deployment of approximately 100 units by 2029. This transition to industrial-scale production follows successful field demonstrations of the technology at solar sites across Victoria and New South Wales.

In Brisbane, Built Robotics Australia has been awarded up to $13.3 million to establish a manufacturing hub and operations centre for autonomous piling systems. The company plans to produce and deploy 12 robotic piling units, targeting one of the most labour-intensive phases of utility-scale solar construction. This effort builds upon earlier ARENA-supported trials of the company's technology within the country.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller stated that these projects are designed to advance previously tested technologies into locally manufactured products that can be deployed at scale. By automating the installation of foundations and panels, the agency aims to reduce construction costs, address workforce constraints, and accelerate the pace of solar deployment. Miller noted that local manufacturing will also strengthen domestic supply chains and foster the development of specialist skills in the renewable energy sector.