LUMI is an AI-powered pick and place solution designed to streamline utility scale solar construction. It installs solar panels onto racking structures autonomously, allowing onsite workers to complete the securing process. This reduces manual labor and increases installation speed, safety, and cost-efficiency.

The robot will help the current workforce install solar modules up to 3.5 times quicker and eliminate the need for heavy lifting.

LUMI will be deployed throughout Australia

ARENA stated that LUMI had already demonstrated its ability to lower costs for solar PV plant in the US.

The new project is the first global deployment a complete fleet five LUMI robotics, which could lower solar power plant costs up to 6.2%. Luminous, a global engineering procurement and construction company, has partnered up with Equans to implement LUMI in two utility-scale PV power plants located in Australia. Neoen’s Culcairn Solar PV Plant located in New South Wales, and Engie’s Goorambat project in Victoria are both part of the

project.

ARENA’s vision for solar energy in Australia

ARENA’s CEO Darren Miller emphasizes that reducing maintenance and operation costs is crucial to achieving ARENA’s ultra-low cost solar vision. Miller said that solutions like LUMI were key to reducing costs, and maintaining Australia’s leadership in the development and innovations of solar technologies.

ARENA has a vision for Ultra Low-Cost Solar, or ULCSwhich argues a ’30-30-30 approach to solar could help Australia become a renewable power by 2030. This would mean 30% solar module efficiency, and a cost per watt of 30 cents. This would mean achieving a cost of electricity that is below AU$20 for each megawatt-hour by 2030. Miller reiterated that this ULCS vision is important, stating, “because solar will form the basis for Australia’s renewable’superpower” future.”

ARENA launched its Solar ScaleUp Challenge, which runs for eight weeks, on 19 June 2024. The initiative invited professionals across the international solar industry, including financiers, solar customers and engineers, to help remove barriers in installing, operating and maintaining solar PV systems.

The organisation launched its AU$1 billion Solar Sunshot Program later that year to support domestic module production. The first recipient of the scheme was revealed last month as 5B, a prefabricated ‘folding solar structure’ provider. PV Tech Premiumexamined the Solar Sunshot Initiative and Solar ScaleUp in PV Tech Power Volume 40.