Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Traditional methods for inspecting and cleaning solar panels often require separate equipment and actions, leading to inefficiencies in terms of time, resources, and labour. As solar technology advances, there is a need for more automated and technologically advanced methods to inspect and clean solar panels effectively and efficiently. Cenith Energy Corporation is a Canadian company that operates as a solar power developer with a notable presence in both the USA and Canada. The company has designed and installed approximately 20 MW of solar panels along with 1GW in the USA over the past 15 years. Cenith Energy is collaborating with Lambton College’s Lambton Manufacturing Innovation Centre (LMIC) to design and develop an inspection robot – a remotely controlled robotic system capable of integrating inspection and cleaning functionalities while harnessing the efficiency of ultrasonic waves for cleaning and minimizing water consumption. Currently, the teams are designing a Proof of Concept to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonic waves for cleaning solar panels without causing any damage. Now, Cenith Energy is seeking further collaboration in pursuit of achieving the design of a scrubber/cleaning robot to move over solar panels and deliver ultrasonic waves and water to remove dirt from the panels. Additionally,they aim to identify a suitable drone available on the market with capacity to transport the scrubber robot and design specialized attachments for the inspection cameras and scrubber robot. Successful implementation of the proposed system will increase competitiveness, expanding sales and job creation numbers at Cenith Energy. Marketing and commercialization have the potential to raise annual revenues to $20M and create 200 new full-time positions in technical and sales personnel within five years of production. The exportation of the ‘Made-in-Canada’ technology will stimulate economic growth by creating employment opportunities in research and development, manufacturing, and support services in Canada. The project fosters skill development in robotics and renewable energy while extending the lifespan of solar panels, reducing labor costs, and enhancing operational efficiency. This will contribute to cleaner energy production, aligning with greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, obeying low-carbon and circular economy principles, and supporting climate change efforts.