October 25, 2024
Pilar Sánchez Molina

from magazine pv Spain

Portuguese energy company EDP will test the construction of its first solar PV park under real-world large-scale installation conditions in Spain, using its Hyperflex automation technology.

The AutoPV project in Peñaflor, in the northwestern province of Valladolid, will use automated solutions in 3 MW of the total 122 MW of installed capacity through robotic technology from Comau, an Italian company that is a world leader in the design and manufacture of robots and solutions automation for various sectors such as the automotive and shipbuilding industries.

The pilot project involves building part of the solar park using a mobile factory, called Hyperflex, which includes an automated assembly station where the photovoltaic structure is pre-assembled and a rover that transports and positions this structure to its final location on the ground. The entire system is transported by truck to the solar park, where it is built and assembled on site. The use of the Hyperflex automation system and the rover has three main phases: unloading and assembly, operation (i.e. building the structure) and disassembly for the next mission.

Hyperflex furniture factory

Comau’s patented mobile factory allows the automatic installation of solar trackers directly on the photovoltaic field. The company boasts an installation rate of up to 30% more modules per hour per operator compared to standard processes and up to 25% faster time to market for new installations, with an average savings of 35% on cost per panel.

Hyperflex automatically assembles the entire solar panel, which can measure up to 48 m2, directly on the photovoltaic field.

It has a flexible design that can accommodate different types of trackers and panels, allowing it to easily adapt to the specific needs of different energy providers.

The temporary mobile factory is housed in a semi-trailer that can be easily transported from one solar plant to another, according to Comau.

50% reduction in assembly time for structures

The aim of the program from EDP’s point of view is to achieve greater efficiency in the construction of solar parks by “significantly accelerating the project schedule, with the expectation of reducing the assembly time of the solar panel structure by up to 50%”. The energy company explains, adding that “this model of human-machine collaboration allows robots to also perform the most difficult tasks, such as manipulating structures and solar panels, while workers are employed in more specialized technical functions.” .

In addition to improving efficiency, EDP points out that automation directly contributes to increased workplace safety. This process opens up room for continuous improvement, as automated technology makes it possible to identify and implement optimizations in future projects.

“The Peñaflor pilot is just the first step in introducing automation solutions to EDP’s solid solar business plan,” said António Coutinho, CEO of EDP Inovação. “The purpose of EDP is to transform it into a global and integrated process capable of generating competitive advantages for all company operations and empowering our human capital for more skilled activities.”

Popular content