LUMI Robots Revolutionize Solar Deployment with Advanced Automation in Australia

LUMI Robots Enhance Solar Deployment with Advanced Automation
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**Overview**

On July 2, 2025, it was announced that Luminous, a robotics pioneer, has been awarded $4.9 million in funding as the inaugural recipient of ARENA’s $100 million Solar ScaleUp Challenge. This initiative aims to accelerate innovation and gather global ideas aimed at reducing the costs associated with large-scale solar energy projects.

Luminous’ project will showcase the LUMI robot, an AI-driven pick-and-place technology designed to optimize utility-scale solar construction. The LUMI robot addresses one of the most labor-intensive tasks in the industry: solar panel installation. It autonomously positions solar modules onto racking structures, enabling onsite workers to focus on securing them in place. This innovation significantly reduces manual labor while enhancing installation speed, safety, and cost-efficiency.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller emphasized that lowering operational and maintenance costs during the deployment of large-scale solar is crucial for achieving ARENA’s vision of ultra-low-cost solar energy. “ARENA has set an ambitious goal to reduce the installed cost of solar to 30 cents per watt and bring the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) below $20 per megawatt-hour. These targets are vital because achieving these costs will establish solar as the foundation for Australia’s future as a renewable energy leader.”

Miller further noted, “To reach net-zero emissions, Australia will require massive amounts of solar energy at ultra-low costs. Our capabilities in manufacturing advanced technologies have been proven; now we must apply this expertise to solar PV, which is essential for the nation’s clean energy future.”

Solutions like the LUMI robot are pivotal for cutting costs and ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of solar technology innovation. The Solar ScaleUp Challenge brought together local and global innovators to collaborate and develop transformative solutions for the solar industry. This project exemplifies that innovation, according to Mr. Miller.

Luminous anticipates that the LUMI robot will boost productivity and safety on Australian solar farms, enabling existing workers to install solar panels up to 3.5 times faster without the need for heavy lifting. While LUMI has already demonstrated cost reductions on solar farms in the United States, this ARENA project marks the first global deployment of a full fleet of five LUMI robots, potentially lowering solar farm costs by up to 6.2%.

Luminous has partnered with Equans, a global engineering, procurement, and construction firm, to implement LUMI at two Australian solar farms: the 440 MW Neoen Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales and the 250 MW Engie Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria.

Luminous CEO Jay M. Wong expressed excitement about collaborating with ARENA and Equans to showcase the future of solar construction in one of the world’s most advanced solar markets. “With LUMI, we are not just introducing a robot; we are redefining the standard for solar farm construction, allowing sites to be energized more quickly and safely. Deploying our LUMI fleet in Australia will enable us to gather vital data, performance insights, and real-world impacts necessary for driving global adoption—an essential scale and transformation we founded Luminous to achieve.”

This project continues ARENA’s support for Australian innovation in the solar PV sector. Since 2009, ARENA has invested over $388 million in more than 200 solar research and development projects through funding programs previously managed by the Australian Solar Institute or directly by ARENA since 2012.

Although the ScaleUp Challenge has concluded, ARENA remains committed to accelerating innovation in renewable energy technologies. Investors, developers, researchers, or entrepreneurs interested in low-cost large-scale solar solutions are encouraged to get involved. ARENA will continue to support groundbreaking ideas and advances that propel Australia’s clean energy future.

For more information on ARENA’s Ultra Low-Cost Solar priorities or to apply for funding through the Advancing Renewables Program or Solar Sunshot Program, please reach out to ARENA.

**Contact:**
media@arena.gov.au

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