Bill Gates-backed fund invests $31.8m in startup building robot-run solar farms

Bill Gates-backed investment firm Planted has secured $31.8 million to scale its robotic solar farm installation technology. The startup's innovative approach aims to revolutionize the traditional and labor-intensive process of building solar power plants. Planted's robotics and software work together to create a production line for constructing solar farms, which can now be completed in weeks instead of months.

The new investment was led by Piva Capital and RA Capital Management Planetary Health, and joined by Google, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Gigascale Capital. Google and Bill Gates' investment reflect the growing focus on climate technologies and the need for faster deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.

Planted's robot-operated system uses software to create a digital twin of the site and plan the placement of solar panels, which are installed using specially designed robots. This approach reduces labor and land preparation time, allowing for the construction of solar farms on uneven terrain and saving up to 50% more energy per acre. The company claims it can achieve a tenfold increase in robot deployment capacity within a year and is currently working on projects totaling over 20 gigawatts.

By streamlining the construction process, Planted's robots can speed up the time from initial contract to power delivery, as demonstrated by a 28MW project completed in just 10 months from start to finish. The company's modular approach also makes it easier to secure environmental permits and minimizes visual impact on the surrounding landscape. With this latest funding round, Planted aims to expand its robotic fleet and launch the next-generation robot, Sage, in 2026.