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An efficient robot designed to automate solar panel installation will now begin working in Australia with a new funding boost.
Developed by Boston-based Luminous Robotics Inc., the robot can pick up solar panels and place them securely onto racks. The LUMI robot-maker has been selected to receive $4.9 million in funding from the Australian government’s $100 million Solar Scaleup Challenge.
The company recently unveiled LUMI Series 3, which delivers a 10x boost in automation for solar construction, starting at module installation.
AI-powered pick and place technology
The first version of the robot LUMI, which was first unveiled in 2023, uses artificial intelligence and can help existing workforces to install 80-lb (36.2 kg) solar panels up to 3.5 times faster.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) revealed that Luminous’ project will introduce and demonstrate its LUMI robot .
The AI-powered pick and place technology is designed to streamline utility-scale solar construction.
LUMI addresses one of the industry’s most labour-intensive tasks: panel installation. The robot autonomously places solar modules onto racking structures, allowing onsite workers to complete the final securing process, reducing manual labour and improving installation speed, safety, and cost-efficiency.
Reduces operation and maintenance costs
Darren Miller, ARENA CEO, said that reducing operation and maintenance costs in the deployment of large-scale solar is a critical lever in achieving ARENA’s ultra-low-cost solar vision.
“ ARENA has set an ambitious goal to reduce the installed cost of solar to 30 cents per watt and bring the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) below $20 per megawatt hour. These are important targets, because at this cost, solar will form the foundation for Australia’s renewable energy superpower future.”
LUMI robot will enhance productivity and safety
The Boston-based robotic company hopes the LUMI robot will enhance productivity and safety on Australian solar farms by helping the existing workforce to install solar panels up to 3.5 times faster, without any need for heavy lifting.
While LUMI has already demonstrated cost reductions on solar farms in the U.S., the ARENA project marks the first global deployment of a full fleet of five LUMI robots, unlocking the potential to lower solar farm costs by up to 6.2%, according to Luminous Robotics.
Jay M. Wong, Luminous CEO, said that they were thrilled to work with ARENA and Equans to showcase the future of solar construction in one of the world’s most advanced solar markets.
“With LUMI, we’re not just introducing a robot – we’re setting out to redefine the standard for how solar farms are built and help sites energise faster and safer. Deploying our LUMI fleet in Australia will allow us to capture the data, performance insights, and real-world impact needed to drive global adoption – the kind of scale and transformation we founded Luminous to achieve.”
Reports have revealed that Luminous has partnered with Equans, a global engineering, procurement, and construction firm, to deploy LUMI at two Australian solar farms: the 440MW Neoen Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales and the 250MW Engie Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria.
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