EDP trials automated construction technology on Spanish PV project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Comau’s Hyperflex automated construction system will be trialled on an EDP project in Spain. Image: Comau.

Developer EDP is piloting a robotic construction solution on a 122MW PV power plant in Valladolid, Spain, through which it hopes to significantly cut the project’s build time.

The Hyperflex technology, developed by Italian robotics specialist Comau, will be used on a 3MW section of Peñaflor project, with the aim of cutting the time needed for the structure assembly phase of the project in half.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Automated on-site production technologies are emerging as a new area of innovation in PV power plant construction. As well as streamlining certain aspects of the build process, mobile assembly stations are also seen as means of addressing labour shortages and improving site safety for workers by taking on some of the more physically demanding construction tasks.

In the case of the Peñaflor project, a mobile factory will pre-assemble the structure of the PV system and a rover will transport the pre-assembled structure to its final location for installation.

“By investing in a solution as innovative as this, we contribute to making the construction of solar parks faster, more efficient, safer and more sustainable,” said António Coutinho, CEO of EDP Innovation.

“The pilot in Peñaflor is just the first step in introducing automation solutions into EDP’s robust solar business plan. EDP’s goal is to transform this into a global and integrated process, capable of generating competitive advantages for all the company’s operations and enhancing our human capital for more qualified activities”, said Coutinho.

Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Comau, added: “The collaboration with EDP confirms the importance and added value of automation in renewable energies and particularly, in this case, solar panel installation. Thanks to our advanced technology, we allow our customers and partners to experience better quality, increased efficiency, and lower overall costs, helping them contribute to making sustainable solar energy a reality.”

Quality control

In addition to their claimed efficiency and site safety benefits, automated construction technologies are also garnering interest in the PV industry for the improvements they offer in managing installation quality.

Last year, Matt Campbell, CEO of US firm Terabase, which is also pioneering an on-site production line technology, told PV Tech that the company’s Terafab system had achieved zero breakages in an assembly run of 16,000 PV modules. This compares favourably to typical breakage rates involving human installers, which can run at up to 3%.

Read Next

August 1, 2025
US solar module manufacturer First Solar saw sales and net profits increase in Q2 2025, as it forecasts a strong performance under the Trump administration’s industrial and trade policy changes.
August 1, 2025
Western Australia network operator Western Power has confirmed it has granted two more network connection offers to two new large-scale renewable energy projects, bringing its total for 2024/25 to 759MW.
August 1, 2025
Dutch pension fund APG has agreed to provide Octopus Australia with AU$1 billion to support its solar, wind, and BESS portfolio.
July 31, 2025
Lithuanian government-owned utility and renewables developer Ignitis Group has completed its first 94MW solar project in Latvia.
July 31, 2025
US solar module manufacturer SEG Solar has shipped its first order of utility-scale solar modules from its Texas production facility.
July 30, 2025
Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imports entering the US from India from the 1st August 2025.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK