Built Robotics receives million-dollar funding for Australian robotics project

The project will pilot robots that will make it easier and safer to deploy solar farms.

San Francisco startup Built Robotics has received A$1.3 million in funding for a project to design and pilot autonomous piling robots.

Built Robotics’ project is an Australian first. It will automate the pile-driving processes associated with constructing utility-scale solar farms. Current methods are labour and time intensive.

The design and piloting of first- and second-generation prototype robots has the potential to reduce piling time by approximately 82% and labour costs by 88%. This will help increase installation efficiency and safety.

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

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

The Solar ScaleUp Challenge

Solar photovoltaics (PV) will be a key technology in the global effort to reach net zero. Australia wants to drive greater adoption of solar PV by reducing the costs of installing, operating and maintaining solar projects.

Built Robotics’ solution is an example of the innovative ideas that the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is looking to support through its A$100 million Solar ScaleUp Challenge.

The Solar ScaleUp Challenge aims to stimulate greater innovation and collaboration in the Australian solar sector and accelerate the deployment of large-scale solar projects.

The Challenge invites innovators, financiers and businesses to collaborate on solar projects, leveraging technologies such as robotics, automation, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. Shortlisted submissions could access up to A$100 million in grant funding from ARENA.

A leader in renewable energy resources

Australia has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world. We are transforming our energy systems to achieve a target of 82% renewable energy in the Australian grid by 2030.

Australia is:

• investing in utility-scale solar, onshore and offshore wind projects to grow our renewable energy supply
• working on a growing pipeline of energy storage and transmission projects to grow generation capacity and manage intermittent supply.

Investors can access a range of incentives and grants to support their Australian renewables projects.

Find out more about Australia’s vast renewable energy resources.

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