Revolutionizing Solar Panel Maintenance: Aplos Ventures’ Mobile Docking Station (MDS) Harnesses Clean Energy to Its Full Potential

In the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy, Aplos Ventures emerges as an innovative player, introducing the groundbreaking Mobile Docking Station (MDS) for solar module cleaning robots. Using the MDS, a cleaning robot can be shared in multiple rows effectively utilizing the robot capacity and providing a solid alternative for semi-autonomous pick-and-place/lift-and-shift robots. This fully autonomous system addresses the challenges faced in maintaining irregular land layouts and smaller solar arrays, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution to maximize the utilization of assets.

Introducing the Mobile Docking Station (MDS)

Aplos Ventures proudly presents the Mobile Docking Station (MDS), a cutting-edge technology designed to transport the ease-i solar module cleaning robot seamlessly from one solar array to another. This autonomous station operates in a straight line, transporting a robot from row-to-row ensuring the optimal utilization of assets with minimal capital expenditure (CAPEX). What sets MDS apart is its ability to navigate undulating terrain, requiring minimal civil work or earthwork on-site offering retrofittable options for existing plants.

Advantages of Aplos Ventures’ MDS:

• Economic Efficiency:

1. Aplos Ventures claims a reduction in overall CAPEX by up to ~60% with a payback period of less than two years when set off against expensive and unreliable labour for semi-autonomous alternatives..
2. MDS covers a significant distance of approximately 110 meters, accommodating 14-20 rows or 2.5MWp-3MWp through one MDS and cleaning robot combination.

• Smart Sensor Technology:

1. MDS employs a smart sensor-based mechanism, that adjusts the docking station to the height and angle of module mounting structure catering to  differential angles (+/- 10 degrees) of tables, and vertical height adjustments up to 500mm.
2. This ability ensures the cleaning robot can efficiently navigate and clean various solar array configurations

• Modular Design and Easy Installation:

1. The state-of-the-art modular design makes MDS quick and easy to install, providing flexibility for different solar plant layouts, different module mounting structure dimensions, pitch and ground clearances.
2. The system requires no major civil work at the site, thanks to the use of pre-cast sleepers for laying the track.

• Versatility in Applications:

1. MDS is suitable for fixed tilt, seasonal tilt, and tracker installations, showcasing its adaptability to diverse solar plant setups.
2. No change in configuration is required even when tilts are changed in seasonal tilt racks or trackers as the sensors will readjust the trolley to the new tilt angles.

• IoT Enabled and AI Powered:

5. The fully IoT-enabled and AI-powered system ensures remote operation and control, enhancing overall efficiency and reducing the need for on-site management.

Optimizing Capex with MDS:

Land layouts in solar plants often pose challenges due to irregular parcels and smaller arrays. Aplos Ventures addresses these challenges with their MDS solution.

• Autonomous Transitioning:

1. MDS enables the ease-i cleaning robot to transition autonomously between arrays, optimizing the utilization of the robot’s capacity so that a single robot may be shared in many rows.
2. This innovation significantly reduces capital expenditure by upto ~60% and labor costs for maintenance of smaller arrays by up to ~95%.

• Cleaning Efficiency:

1. The MDS allows the cleaning robot to cover up to 12-20 consecutive rows with a single cleaning robot, further enhancing cleaning efficiency.
2. Daily cleaning of smaller arrays ensures an average soiling level kept to ~0.25%, maximizing energy generation potential.

Mobile Docking Trolley Features:

Key features of the Mobile Docking Trolley, covering a linear distance of up to 100m in a straight line. Its ability to manage different tilt angles, post heights, and ground undulations provides a versatile solution for various solar plant configurations.

Benefits of Mobile Docking Trolley:

• Cost Savings:

1. Significant savings on labour costs, as the system automates the transition and cleaning processes.
2. Cleaning during non-generational hours helps avoid hotspots and ensures optimal energy generation.
3. Comprehensive Cleaning:
4. The automatic system ensures daily cleaning of all solar modules even in the far-flung corners of plants where providing a dedicated robot for the row is not cost effective.
5. Terrain Adaptability:

1. Ground clearance and slope-handling capabilities make the MDS suitable for undulating terrains, enhancing its applicability in diverse environments.
2. Significant variations even in consecutive rows can be effectively handles through sensor-based alignment ensuring a plug-and-play type solution.

• Daily Cleaning for Additional Generation Gain:

1. The ability to clean smaller arrays daily contributes to additional generation gains compared to periodic cleaning approaches.

In conclusion, Aplos Ventures’ Mobile Docking Station (MDS) marks a significant leap forward in the field of maximising power generation from solar panels. This innovative solution not only reduces capital expenditure but also enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of solar module cleaning, ultimately contributing to the sustainable and optimized operation of solar power plants. As the industry embraces advancements in clean energy technology, Aplos Ventures stands at the forefront, offering a solution that harnesses clean energy to its fullest potential.