Terabase Energy’s construction automation platform, Terafab, has installed a 17-MW portion of the 225-MW White Wing Ranch solar project in Arizona, marking the first commercial project for the California-based automated solar installation start-up.
The company partnered with the developer of the project, Leeward Renewable Energy, and the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor RES and hopes this collaboration will extend to future projects.
According to an announcement this week, the Terafab system has demonstrated labour productivity improvements of 25% compared with manual installation, as well as effective synergy of automation, Internet of Things (IoT), a digital twin and data analytics to improve solar construction management. The platform also completely eliminated the manual lifting of heavy steel tubes and solar panels.
“White Wing Ranch demonstrates that Terabase’s technology can drive substantial progress in solar construction safety, quality, cost, and schedule. We are excited about the possibilities ahead,” said Will Schultek, vice president of construction at RES.
