The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to AUD 32.3 million ($22.45 million) in funding for United States-headquartered companies Luminous Robotics and Built Robotics to establish new manufacturing facilities in Melbourne and Brisbane.

ARENA is providing up to AUD 17.8 million to Luminous to establish a Melbourne manufacturing facility for its autonomous solar panel installation LUMI robots designed to streamline utility-scale solar construction. The AUD 39.7 million project is expected to support the manufacture and deployment of about 100 of the robots by 2029.

Built Robotics Australia will receive up to AUD 14.5 million to establish a Brisbane manufacturing hub and operations centre for autonomous piling systems. It is anticipated the facility will manufacture and deploy 12 robotic pile driving systems.

ARENA Chief Executive Officer Darren Miller said the new manufacturing facilities will improve productivity, reduce construction costs and ease workforce constraints as large-scale solar deployment in Australia grows.

“Installing foundations and placing panels are two of the most labour-intensive parts of solar farm construction,” he said, noting that “Australia needs to install large volumes of solar quickly and cost-effectively.”

Australia is targeting 82% renewables by 2030 and according to the Australian Energy Market Operator that will require about 38 GW of new solar and wind capacity to be built in the next three years. That includes some 20 GW of large-scale solar

“Local manufacturing and automation can improve the way solar farms are built by reducing construction costs and making installation faster, safer and more efficient,” Miller said.

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