Solar panel cleaning
- Key feature
- Under 40 kg
- Key feature
- Up to 2 km per charge
- Key feature
- Waterless cleaning
On order
Price on request
Updated
SOLUTION · ENERGY AND SOLAR
Robots for energy and solar: panel cleaning, thermal inspection, site rounds
Cleaning robots maintain the module rows, docked drones fly over the plant and quadrupeds run rounds in substations. Technicians act on the faults found.
IN BRIEF
Updated
On solar farms and electrical sites, robots clean the panels, drone-in-a-box systems carry out thermal inspection and quadruped robots run site rounds.
hyCLEANER solarROBOT pro cleans a 2,400 mm wide path, climbs 25° slopes depending on the surface and runs up to 3 h per battery, according to its manufacturer.
Robot Distribution matches the robot to the mounting structure and the site, commissions it and maintains it, for purchase, rental or RaaS.
WHAT ROBOTS DO
Three tasks robots take on at a generation site.
Panel cleaning
A remote-controlled robot brushes rooftops and ground-mounted plants; on trackers, a robot fixed to the row cleans it dry on a schedule. Arctech Star Shine I covers up to 5 km per trip without water, according to its manufacturer.
Thermal inspection
A drone housed in a dock takes off on a schedule and flies over modules, inverters and substations. DJI Dock 3 covers a 10 km radius with a Matrice 4TD carrying a 640 × 512 thermal camera, according to its manufacturer.
Site rounds
A quadruped robot walks substations and plant rooms on a fixed route. DEEP Robotics X30 is rated IP67, climbs 45° stairs and works from -20 to 55 °C, according to its manufacturer.
USE CASES
The jobs our robots do in this sector.
Robotic solar panel cleaningThe robot brushes the module rows, dry or with water, remote-controlled or autonomous depending on the model. Operations teams keep monitoring, electrical checks and plant maintenance.
Drone inspection of solar and industrial sitesThe drone flies over modules, roofs, networks and equipment and brings back visible and thermal images, piloted on site or launched from an automated dock. Technicians keep the analysis, decisions and repairs.
Electrical substation inspectionA ground robot patrols the substation aisles and a docked drone flies over the equipment. Together they record temperatures, gauges and visual condition, without sending someone out for every round.
Drone inspection of power lines and wind turbinesThe drone flies along the lines and around the turbines, taking visible and thermal images of insulators, connections and blades. Maintenance crews only work at height on confirmed defects.
MATCHING ROBOTS
Solar cleaning robots, docked drones and inspection quadrupeds.
Solar panel cleaning · 16 robots
See all Solar panel cleaning robots
Solar panel cleaning
- Weight
- 40 kg
- Key feature
- 30° slope
- Key feature
- Up to 5 km per trip
On orderPrice on request
Solar panel cleaning
- Weight
- 50 kg
- Battery capacity
- 24 Ah
- Key feature
- Up to 4 km per trip
On orderPrice on request
BayRobot
Solar panel cleaning
- Cleaning efficiency
- 1,000 sqm/h
- Weight
- 23 kg
- Runtime
- 4.5 h
On orderPrice on request
Professional drones · 14 robots
See all Professional drones robots
Professional drones
- Key feature
- 42 min flight time
- Ingress protection
- IP43
- Key feature
- 640×512 thermal
On orderFrom €9,490 ex VATor €319/month in RaaS
Professional drones
- Ingress protection
- IP55
- Key feature
- 7 km operation range
- Key feature
- 25 min fast charge
On orderFrom €21,490 ex VATor €729/month in RaaS
Professional drones
- Payload
- 100 kg
- Key feature
- 100 L spray tank
- Key feature
- 40 L/min spray flow
On orderFrom €9,640 ex VATor €329/month in RaaS
Professional drones
- Ingress protection
- IP56
- Key feature
- 54 min flight time
- Key feature
- 10 km operating radius
On orderFrom €16,790 ex VATor €569/month in RaaS
Quadrupeds · 29 robots
See all Quadrupeds robots
Quadrupeds
- Payload
- 5 kg
- Maximum speed
- 3.5 m/s
- Weight
- 15.5 kg
On orderFrom €6,440 ex VATor €219/month in RaaS
Quadrupeds
- Payload
- 25 kg
- Ingress protection
- IP67
- Key feature
- Wheel-legged
On orderFrom €45,490 ex VATor €1,549/month in RaaS
Quadrupeds
- Payload
- 50 kg
- Ingress protection
- IP67
- Weight
- 68 kg
On orderFrom €69,790 ex VATor €2,369/month in RaaS
Quadrupeds
- Payload
- 5 kg
- Maximum speed
- 3.5 m/s
- Weight
- 15.5 kg
On orderFrom €3,390 ex VATor €119/month in RaaS
Figures from the manufacturers' published specifications, checked . Prices ex VAT shown as "from" prices, or on quote.
HOW DEPLOYMENT WORKS
From site survey to after-sales.
Site survey
We walk the routes with you before any order: passage widths, door thresholds, floor gaps, slopes, lifts and doors, Wi-Fi coverage, charging and water points. The survey decides the model.
Mapping and commissioning
The robot is mapped on site, routes and no-go zones are set, and lifts, doors or call systems are connected where the model supports it.
Training
Operators learn daily use, charging and cleaning, error recovery and the emergency stop. One site lead learns to change routes and maps.
After-sales
Remote diagnosis first, then a part or a technician. Preventive maintenance and software updates can be part of a service contract or of a RaaS fee.
ACQUISITION
Buy, rent, or pay by the month.
- BUYOwn the robotOne invoice, with warranty and an optional service contract quoted alongside.
- RENTAL1 day to 12 monthsTest one floor or cover a season: delivered, set up and collected.
- RAAS24 to 60 monthsOne monthly fee: robot, maintenance, software, replacement.
REGULATION
What European law asks, in plain language.
Updated · General information, not legal advice.
Read the Machinery Regulation guide- CE marking and EU declaration of conformityEvery robot we deliver carries the CE marking and comes with the manufacturer's EU declaration of conformity, which we check before delivery.
- Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230The Machinery Regulation applies from 20 January 2027 and replaces Directive 2006/42/EC. It adds requirements for autonomous mobile machinery, safety software and protection against corruption.
- GDPR and robots with camerasA robot that films or maps a place where people can be identified processes personal data. The operator needs a legal basis, informs the people concerned and limits how long images are kept.
- Your risk assessmentAs an employer, you include the robot in the risk assessment of the workplace like any other work equipment. The manufacturer's instructions state the residual risks and the training required.
- Solar plant thermographyInfrared thermography of photovoltaic modules and plants is described in the technical specification IEC TS 62446-3, which sets out the measurement conditions. The brief for a drone inspection can refer to it.
FAQ
Questions solar and power site operators ask us.
Can a robot clean solar panels without water?
Yes. According to their manufacturers, Arctech Star Shine I cleans dry and Ecoppia T4 uses microfiber and airflow, on single-axis trackers. hyCLEANER solarROBOT ultimate works dry or wet, using 8 to 14 l/min when cleaning wet.
Is a cleaning robot suitable for a rooftop?
Yes for remote-controlled models. According to its manufacturer, hyCLEANER solarROBOT compact splits into six parts under 10 kg for lifting onto the roof and suits systems of about 50 to 2,000 m². Rooftop work follows the site's fall-protection rules.
Does a drone-in-a-box need an authorisation?
Usually, yes. Drones fall under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947: an automated flight beyond the pilot's visual line of sight is in the 'specific' category and requires a declaration or an authorisation from the national authority. Robot Distribution factors this into the site survey.
Can a quadruped robot run rounds in a substation?
Yes. According to its manufacturer, DEEP Robotics X30 is built for power inspection, rated IP67, works from -20 to 55 °C and in darkness, with 2.5 to 4 h of runtime. The site survey checks the route, network coverage and safety distances to exposed live parts.
Tell us about your site. We will propose the robots and the inspection plan.
Robots, acquisition mode and delivery terms, in one written proposal.