Avaada Group and Airtouch Solar join hands for robotic cleaning solutions

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Avaada Group and Airtouch Solar join hands for robotic cleaning solutions

Avaada Group and Airtouch Solar join hands for robotic cleaning solutions

Industry News
Oct 12,22

The agreement, pegged at approximately $ 2 million for a period of 25 years, will include the supply, erection, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance of Airtouch robotic cleaning systems at Avaada solar farms.

Avaada Group and Airtouch Solar join hands for robotic cleaning solutions

New Delhi, October 12, 2022

Avaada Group, India’s leading energy transition company, has signed a long-term contract with Israel-based Airtouch Solar for the maintenance of its solar modules using robotic cleaning solutions. The agreement, for a period of 25 years, will include the supply, erection, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance of Airtouch robotic cleaning systems at Avaada solar farms. The long-term agreement is pegged at approximately $ 2 million.

Speaking about the association, Kishor Nair, COO of Avaada Group, said, “Airtouch robotic technology solutions would improve our plant operational efficiency by cleaning the dust settled on the solar modules, thereby bringing down the losses. Our association with Airtouch will reinforce our commitment to sustainability by way of saving water in the arid zone. The precision Israel technology with Made in India is a win-win for both the companies.”

On the collaboration, Tal Laufer, CEO of Airtouch Solar, said, “We continue to expand our activity in India which is one of fastest growing markets in the world. The orders we have received from the leading developers like Avaada is a testimony to quality and reliability of Airtouch robots. The local production, logistics, service and sales infrastructure established over the past years, has enabled proximity to clients as well as improved quality of service and response time.”

The solution is easy to implement and optimises losses due to soiling. By deploying these robots, we will be able to save a valuable 80 to 100 K litre of water / MW annually, besides experiencing significant gains in generation and revenue and a much faster cleaning cycle.

“’Power for all' is the mission of the government and solar power will play a vital role in achieving this mission. With a government target of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030 Avaada Group plays a vital role in achieving this target with its increased RE capacity with Airtouch supporting our efforts for water conservation and better efficiency of projects,” added Kishor Nair.

As part of this agreement, Airtouch will use its robotic solutions to dry clean the solar modules at its Bhadla plant in Rajasthan and at Pangaon and Damangaon in Maharashtra. Airtouch will supply and install robots for an amount of $ 0.6 million in several mutually agreed milestones of these projects. In addition to this, Airtouch will provide comprehensive annual maintenance for 25 years for an amount of $ 1.4 million.

In the company’s assessment, the dry (water-free) robotic cleaning solution that it developed is an ideal solution to the problem of dust accumulation on solar panels. The target market for robotic cleaning solutions is estimated at $11 billion for the year 2025, while approximately 95% of the market is currently operating without a robotic cleaning solution.

Social entrepreneur Vineet Mittal-led Avaada Group is an integrated energy platform with business interests ranging from manufacturing solar cells, modules and electrolysers to renewable power generation, green hydrogen, and green ammonia production. Avaada Group’s flagship company Avaada Energy is India’s fastest-growing renewable energy IPP.

Within five years, it has developed an impressive portfolio and the firm plans to reach 11 GW by 2025 and 30 GW by 2030. Avaada Group’s solar manufacturing business comprises a state-of-the-art facility with an annual production capacity of 5 GW for cells and modules. The capacities are expected to get operational by early next year. By 2030, the group plans to scale up to 10 GW along with backward integration into polysilicon, ingots, and wafers.

Airtouch Solar Ltd is one of the leading and innovative companies in the robotic cleaning solutions for the solar energy market (autonomous robotic technologies). The company, which was founded in 2017, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, operation and maintenance of robotic solutions for dry cleaning (waterless) of photo-voltaic panels, used by the solar energy market.

The company integrates the provision of unique technological solutions offered to clients on a Tailor-Made basis, with effective and on-time service, leading to optimisation and maximisation of the energetic output of solar panels, in a fast, efficient and automated manner, as well as reaching significant cost savings for the company’s clients. At present, the company operates, manufactures and sells its products and services in Israel and India, while examining and promoting penetration processes into new target markets.