Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar and Storage are trialling a cutting-edge Autonomous Piling System machine made by Built Robotics during construction of ENGIE‘s 250MW Goorambat East Solar Farm near Benalla—currently the largest solar build in Victoria.
The robotic system speeds up the process of installing the piles for the solar panel installations and is capable of working around the clock.
The system uses advanced AI, GPS, and sensor technology to precisely drive piles with minimal human oversight, boosting efficiency and accuracy.
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ENGIE general manager of engineering and asset delivery Leigh Newbery said,” The Built Robotics autonomous robotic piling machine Bouygues is trialling while building ENGIE’s Goorambat East Solar Farm has exciting prospects for the future.
“It requires skilled technicians to operate it, thus upskilling the current renewable energy workforce and enabling more productivity.
“The intended higher productivity will reduce the cost of renewable energy projects and enable projects to be built in less time—which will bring down energy costs for consumers and potentially allow more renewables to be built.
“Use of machines like this could also have large benefits for the construction of solar farms in remote and inhospitable areas, such as is deserts, where the climate could be dangerous for human staff.”
Newbery said with continued development, machines like this would also enable a reduction in health and safety related risks from construction projects, including manual handling.
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“Autonomous robotic machines like this may also allow installation to occur around the clock, if noise impacts on local residents and near neighbours can be managed,” he said.
“The Built Robotics autonomous robotic piling machine Bouygues are trialling uses a different technology to drive the structural piles into the ground, substantially reducing noise created by up to 20%.”
Construction is continuing at pace on ENGIE’s Goorambat East Solar Farm near Benalla. Once built and commissioned in 2026, it will have a generating capacity to power up to 105,000 average Victorian homes.
