Synergized Solar Robots Upping Gigawatts

Leapting is a trailblazing enterprise at the forefront of smart solutions for the solar PV industry. As the world’s first high-tech company to pioneer artificial intelligence cleaning systems for solar energy products, it leads the charge in innovation. The founder brings a robust background in spearheading major national science and technology projects, and has played a pivotal role in setting national standards.

Specializing in the design, manufacturing, development, and distribution of advanced cleaning equipment for solar energy products, Leapting stands apart. The company has launched two state-of-the-art cleaning systems, the LTCR L and LTCR S, both featuring water-free cleaning modes and remote control functionality. These systems are compatible with various solar mounting structures, from solar tracking to fixed tilt, and by automating the dry cleaning and testing of solar panels, Leapting significantly boosts operational efficiency. Its solutions facilitate unmanned operations that increase daily power output, seamlessly integrating with photovoltaic installations across diverse environments—whether in mountainous regions, aquaculture, agriculture, or building-integrated solar power stations.

In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World, Karan Bhagat, Sales Manager at Leapting, offers an in-depth look at the company’s flagship solar robotic products. He sheds light on the market potential for these innovations, emphasizing their cleaning efficiency, capacity, and cost-effectiveness. Below are the key takeaways from this insightful conversation.

Q: Can you provide detailed insights into the key solar robotic products offered by Leapting, including their unique features and potential applications?

A: Leapting, a leading China-based company, delivers cutting-edge AI-driven robotic solutions for the solar industry. One of our flagship products is the dry-cleaning robot. This has already significantly impacted the Indian market, with nearly 6 gigawatts supplied. In addition to this, we are developing two more cutting-edge robots to cover the entire solar value chain. These include module installation robots, module inspection robots, and enhanced dry-cleaning robots.

Our upcoming Generation 2 robots will enable clients to further optimize fully automated systems, driving even greater efficiency. By leveraging these advancements, we can significantly boost the performance of our fully automatic robots. At its core, Leapting is a technology powerhouse, integrating IoT and AI technologies to elevate the efficiency and effectiveness of solar projects worldwide.

Q: What is your estimate of the current market size for solar robotics, and what factors do you foresee influencing its growth in the coming years?

A: We design robots primarily for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the solar industry. In India, we handle approximately 20 gigawatts of solar projects annually.

For robotic solutions, on average, 2 to 3 robots are needed per megawatt. This means for a 1-gigawatt project, around 20,000 to 30,000 robots are required. The growing demand from IPPs and EPC companies for solar robotic solutions presents a significant opportunity, as many are seeking to reduce reliance on manual labor.

Labor costs in India can be high, particularly in regions like Rajasthan, where extreme summer conditions make it difficult to find workers. This has led to a pressing need to replace manual labor with automated solutions. However, solar plants still require consistent maintenance. Dry-cleaning robots provide the ideal solution, not only by improving the operational efficiency of solar plants but also by ensuring ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M) activities without interruption.

Q: What efficiency gains can we expect in solar panel performance following cleaning by these robots, and how do these improvements compare to traditional cleaning methods?

A: When performing manual wet cleaning, water usage must be limited, which restricts cleaning cycles to 4 to 5 times a month. However, with fully automatic robots, daily cleaning becomes possible. Our robots can cover up to 5 kilometers per day, and since the typical row length in India is 1 to 1.5 kilometers, they can clean the entire row daily. This shift from weekly to daily cleaning significantly reduces soiling losses, which are directly tied to the environment where the panels are installed.

In coastal areas, where high moisture levels can leave permanent marks on the panels, daily cleaning is essential. Manual cleaning cannot keep up with this demand, nor can it operate without water. On average, 2 liters of water are wasted per cleaning, not to mention the additional transport costs involved. Many solar plants are located 20 to 25 kilometers from the nearest city, making water sourcing a challenge. Labor costs further complicate manual operations. A fully automatic solution eliminates all these inefficiencies—no water, no transport, and no labor costs—while enhancing the plant’s performance.

Q: Can you share insights on the cleaning capacity of a single robot in terms of square meters, and how does this efficiency impact overall solar panel maintenance?

A: The robot’s performance depends on the configuration. For instance, in a 1P tracker-based setup, our robot can cover 5 kilometers. Considering each module measures 2 meters by 1 meter, the robot can clean up to 10,000 square meters on a single charge. It requires just 4 hours to recharge. During the day, the robot charges its battery, and during non-generating hours, it efficiently cleans your solar modules. This approach ensures optimal use of both time and energy, maximizing productivity.

Q: What is the expected cost-effectiveness of using these robots in solar parks?

A: The number of robots needed per megawatt varies based on the plant layout. In some configurations, you may require 7 to 8 robots per megawatt, while in others, 2 to 3 robots may suffice. The layout design directly influences this requirement. On average, let’s assume 4 robots per megawatt. With this setup, the breakeven point is typically reached within 3 years. Efficient layout planning is key to optimizing both costs and performance.

Q: Can you provide an overview of how many solar parks currently utilize your products in India and internationally, and what is your vision for the future of solar robotics in the industry?

A: Our current robots leverage the power of AI, and we are preparing to launch our next-generation robots soon. This year, we are working on approximately 4 gigawatts of projects with Adani, with discussions underway for an additional 4 to 5 gigawatts by the end of next year. Beyond Adani, we are in advanced talks with several major IPPs in India, who have shown strong interest in our technology, particularly our Generation 2 and magnetic motion robots. Given the scale of demand, we see this as a significant growth opportunity. Our goal is to become the top provider in the Indian market.