ARRAY Invests in Swap Robotics to Advance Automation in Solar

Provider of solar tracker technologies and solutions, ARRAY Technologies, announced a $3 million strategic investment in Swap Robotics, focused on integrating automation solutions for utility-scale solar projects. The closing of a pre-Series A funding round is underway, with Swap Robotics targeting other strategic investors alongside ARRAY.

ARRAY and Swap Robotics will combine their technologies to tackle utility-scale solar projects. Image used courtesy of Swap Robotics

Solar Industry Demands

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the US solar sector (notably utility solar) has seen exponential growth since 2000 with installations now producing 210 GW of solar capacity, sufficient to fuel 36 million households. The fall in solar installation pricing of over 40% has driven this continued growth, leading to further deployments and expansion into new markets.

Since the original roadmap (Solar+ Decade) laid down by the SEIA in 2019, the organization has set a new target of reaching 30% solar generation in the US by 2030. Ramping up solar installation is a step toward strengthened energy resilience across the US. According to the SEIA, a rise in installations by 60% above current projections is needed by 2030 to meet this goal.

Solar installations in the US have shown a substantial increase since 2000, particularly in the utility sector. Image used courtesy of Solar Energy Industries Association

ARRAY and Swap Robotics

To meet the growing demand for solar, ARRAY has made a $3 million strategic investment in Swap Robotics to focus on automating photovoltaic (PV) installation. With this investment, ARRAY seeks to improve its tracker technology by focusing on automated design layouts that work to support robotic deployment systems. By placing a strong emphasis on automation, ARRAY aims to set itself apart from competitors in the solar market and avoid direct competition from engineering, procurement, and construction contractors who oversee project execution. The integration of ARRAY and Swap Robotics’ technologies and expertise is expected to reduce field installation costs and increase project cycle time efficiency.

Overall, by automating solar installations, ARRAY aims to speed up project completion by cutting down on survey work, design, deployment, and maintenance. Reduced labor, fewer mistakes, and better resource utilization will result in cost savings, while scalability enables effective administration of bigger or more complex projects. Automation will also improve precision, delivering dependable and consistent outcomes throughout installations.

Automating solar installations can improve worker safety, reduce labor costs, and speed up project completion. Image used courtesy of ARRAY Technologies

Automation Solutions for Solar

For ARRAY, this investment will facilitate expansion into new growth areas, support its commitment to decarbonizing the energy sector, and provide the company a firm foothold in the evolving automation space within the utility-scale solar sector. ARRAY intends to provide two more investment installments (of $1 million each) should Swap Robotics achieve certain agreement milestones.