Maximo’s 3.0 robots installed 100 MW of solar capacity at AES’s Bellefield complex, doubling installation speed and cutting labor, a milestone that shows robotics can scale to utility‑size projects. Labor shortages and rising costs are pushing renewable developers to automate every phase of a project, from surveying to maintenance, as the sector expands in the U.S. and globally. In the Mojave Desert, the robots can fit 24 photovoltaic modules per hour per person on average, while the machines that assemble panels take about one minute per panel, roughly double the regional pace. Civ Robotics’ four‑wheeled CivDot can mark up to 3,000 layout points per day with an accuracy of 8 mm, and the company has more than 100 units deployed. In addition, Iberdrola has deployed a Boston Dynamics Spot robot for substation inspections. "Reaching 100 MW is an important milestone for Maximo and for the role robotics can play in solar construction," said Chris Shelton, president of Maximo. Tom Yeshurun, CEO of Civ Robotics, explained that the navigation technology allows marking coordinates within less than a quarter inch, saving labor. Hamamura Keitaro, CEO of LEBO ROBOTICS, noted that robots enable swift responses to turbine capacity loss, keeping equipment in optimal state. As AI and robotic capabilities mature, more developers are expected to deploy autonomous systems across the entire project lifecycle, potentially reshaping the workforce and accelerating the pace of renewable deployment.