44 n CLEAN ENERGY July/August 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com York solar farm will test robot technologies Arecently completed 200kW solar farm at the University of York will be used to develop and test robots and other autonomous systems for inspecting and maintaining solar arrays. The farm, located at the University’s new Institute for Safe Autonomy, is part of a £1.5m research project. The solar farm will act as a “living laboratory” for the Institute, helping to deliver insights to operators of solar farms on how best to integrate robotic technologies into their installations. It will also enable the Institute to become net-zero for energy by 2025, generating enough power to satisfy more than 80% of the building’s expected daily electricity use of 600kWh. The farm, which covers an area of more than 1,400m2, contains a variety of dierent panel congurations and technologies, including static ground installations and a sun-tracking array. Some of the solar panels are in the form of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) which have been mounted onto the side of the Institute building and on its roof to demonstrate and test a variety of installation positions. The solar arrays were installed by Burnley-based Lynx Sustainable Solutions. The scheme has been funded by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) and is one of nine projects intended to improve environmental sustainability, that have received almost £19m of funding from UKRPIF. With 23% of the UK’s CO2 being emitted from buildings, the projects will help to move towards the goal of cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050. The £45m Institute for Safe Autonomy is a new initiative at the University of York which takes a safety-critical approach to designing, developing and testing of robots and connected autonomous systems. The purpose-built facility was completed in summer 2022 and provides collaborative work and test areas for more than 100 researchers across a variety of disciplines. “Robotics, autonomous systems and AI have the potential to transform the way we live, travel and work in the future,” says the Institute’s director, Professor Miles Elsden. “Integrating them with the production of renewable energy will ultimately play a key role in the journey towards net-zero. “This innovative research project marks an important milestone for the Institute and rea¡rms our commitment as a university to sourcing sustainable energy,” he adds. Siemens helped to design, commission and optimise the solar arrays for robotic applications, as well as setting up a data collection system for the panels which will underpin research projects undertaken at the Institute. “Through the solar farm, the University will gain valuable insights to enhance the use of robotic technology,” explains Andrew Smyth, head of Siemens’ energy performance services. “We are seeing this technology deliver meaningful change across a range of industries.” n A £1.5m research project at the University of York will develop and test the use of robots and other autonomous systems to inspect and maintain solar power arrays. The University of York’s solar farm includes a variety of technologies and mounting locations, designed to act as a testbed for robots and other autonomous maintenance and inspection systems The solar farm covers an area of more than 1,400m2
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