Robotics facility launches in Canning Vale with technology to automatically clean solar panels

Canning Vale has a new facility producing automated solar panel cleaning machines in a major breakthrough for the energy industry.

The Solar Energy Robotics workshop will — for the first time in Australia — manufacture automated solar panel cleaning machines which have been developed to withstand the “challenging conditions” of the State’s resource sector and ensure solar panels on mine sites remain in working condition.

The workshop was launched by Innovative Energy Solutions on September 21.

While WA mining sites have used the technology over the past two years, the Canning Vale facility is designed to ramp up production and make up to 50 automatic solar panel cleaning units per week.

The cleaning robots operate as permanently installed systems on solar arrays and eliminate risks at operating mine sites, including dust and exposing workers to “harsh, arid environments”.

The move is backed by the State Government, with Science Minister Stephen Dawson saying the products were a “game changer” for the renewables sector.

“As the Minister for science, I’m constantly amazed by the extraordinary things that West Australians do,” he said.

“Solar panel cleaners are being used right across the Pilbara and right across WA.

“It’s really exciting because as we rush to decarbonise the world, we need to use more solar panels and more wind energy.”

He said the launch was a step in the right direction towards greener futures.

“Projects like the WA solar energy robotics facility will play a key role in contributing to WA’s sustainable future, creating new jobs and diversifying the economy,” he said.

Innovative Energy Solutions chair Peter Rossdeutscher said the technology would be a catalyst for industries to meet net zero emissions targets.

“Leveraging innovation and technology is essential for industries to increase clean energy output and move closer to achieve their net zero emissions by 2050 in support of the goals of the Paris Agreement,” Professor Rossdeutscher said.

“These automated solar panel cleaning machines contribute to that by significantly increasing the energy generation at mine sites and other high use industrial locations.

“They use no water and are proven to extend the life of solar cells in the harshest of conditions in rural Australia.”

Solar Energy Robotics CEO Ben Brayford said he hoped the company would offer solutions that accelerated the energy transition across sectors.

“(We) are pioneering new solutions for global challenges,” he said.