TLDR: AES Corporation has announced the deployment of Maximo, the world’s first AI-powered solar robot fleet, to the second phase of its Bellefield project in Kern County, California. These robots are designed to work alongside human crews, significantly accelerating solar panel installation, enhancing safety, and reducing costs and project timelines. Maximo has already installed over 35 megawatts of solar modules and is projected to install 100 MW by 2025, playing a crucial role in meeting the surging demand for renewable energy.
The AES Corporation has marked a significant milestone in renewable energy deployment with the launch of Maximo, the world’s first AI-powered solar robot fleet, at the second phase of its Bellefield project in Kern County, California. This innovative deployment aims to revolutionize utility-scale solar construction by enhancing efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Maximo, which initially debuted in July 2024, is purpose-built to work collaboratively with human construction teams. Its primary function is to automate the strenuous and repetitive task of lifting and placing heavy solar modules, which often weigh 60 pounds or more. This automation not only lightens the physical toll on human workers but also makes solar installation a more accessible career path. AES reports that Maximo can install solar panels in half the time and at half the cost compared to traditional methods, accelerating renewable energy deployment and reducing the time-to-power for customers.
The Bellefield project, upon completion, is set to become one of the largest solar-plus-storage facilities globally, boasting 1 gigawatt of solar capacity complemented by up to 1 GW of energy storage. The project has an existing offtake agreement with Amazon.
Maximo’s advanced capabilities are driven by AES’s proprietary data set, allowing the robots to adapt to diverse real-world site conditions and support various tracker and module manufacturers. Chris Shelton, SVP and Chief Product Officer at AES, emphasized the robot’s impact, stating, “Maximo is helping EPCs deliver on time and accelerating AES’s solar backlog. With proven success at Bellefield 1 and 2, this is just the beginning of Maximo driving faster, more reliable solar execution with our partners.”
Prior to its California deployment, Maximo successfully supported Amazon operations at the Oak Ridge Solar project in Louisiana, marking its first utility-scale application. The robot fleet has already installed more than 35 megawatts (MW) of solar modules and is projected to install 100 MW by 2025. AES anticipates utilizing Maximo to construct up to 5 GW of its solar backlog and pipeline over the next three years, with future deployments planned across New York, Virginia, and Texas.
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Andrés Gluski, AES President and CEO, highlighted the broader industry context, noting, “We are facing unprecedented increases in demand, driven in large part by the rise of AI and data centers, and innovations like these will be fundamental for accelerating our ability to bring projects online faster and with greater efficiency.” This sentiment aligns with projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which expects solar annual additions to triple by 2035, necessitating a near-doubling of the workforce. Maximo’s ability to create new high-tech jobs and integrate seamlessly with existing labor forces, including union labor in California, positions it as a key innovation in addressing these growing demands.
