- Automation and data could significantly improve the quality of solar operations, according to Terabase CEO, Matt Campbell.
- Terabase, a US manufacturing firm, has designed a sophisticated combination of hardware and software to optimize the design and build of solar projects.
- The autonomous Terafab construction system by Terabase, referred to as ‘factory to make factories’, was successfully deployed at the White Wing solar farm in Arizona.
- Campbell is optimistic that improvements in automation and prediction could create a “continuous loop of improvement”, where data collected will inform future decision-making.
According to Matt Campbell, the co-founder and CEO of US manufacturing firm Terabase, the global solar manufacturing sector has been grappling with low-quality modules and installations. Campbell suggests the integration of sophisticated hardware and software could likely result in optimized design and build of solar projects, suitable for various environments.
The CEO postulates that adopting automated processes could significantly reduce stress on human workers who often work in challenging conditions. Solar projects are usually located in areas with high sunlight levels, which often coincide with remote regions having high temperatures.
In its efforts to improve the quality of solar installations, Terabase has developed an autonomous Terafab construction system. This unique platform, which has been described as a “factory to make factories”, has successfully been deployed at the White Wing solar farm in the US state of Arizona. Earlier this year, the platform bagged US$25 million in funding to scale up its operations.
The CEO also expressed his optimism that advancements in automation and predictive technology can engender a “continuous loop of improvement” for solar installations. This can work by having each data set collected at a Photovoltaic (PV) project inform future decision-making regarding other projects. While Campbell acknowledges the inherent challenges of deploying large-scale industrial processes in extreme environments, he remains confident that an increase in the volume and quality of data available regarding PV installations will greatly benefit the industry.
This move towards increased automation in the solar sector is part of the recent trend of investment into AI and computing technology. Other notable collaborations include Utilidata and Nvidia’s effort to deploy smart data collection devices at US solar infrastructure.