With the continuous expansion of solar photovoltaic power generation, vegetation growth and site maintenance have become key factors affecting the efficiency, safety, and cost of power plants. In vast solar photovoltaic arrays, weeds are like lurking "energy saboteurs": their growth can block sunlight, reducing power generation efficiency by 10-15%, and during the dry season, they pose a serious fire hazard.
Mowers, especially modern automated, specialized, and intelligent mowing equipment, offer advantages that are difficult to replicate by manual labor in solar power plants. This article analyzes the advantages and roles of mowers in solar power plants, focusing on their functions, benefits, and considerations for their use.
Without proper vegetation management, ground vegetation, weeds, and shrubs can lead to the following problems:
1.1 Shading Effect
Excessive or uneven vegetation growth can shade parts of the photovoltaic panels, reducing their output power.
1.2 Heat Accumulation and Poor Cooling
Dense vegetation can hinder airflow around and under the panels, leading to poor heat dissipation and reduced efficiency, especially in high temperatures.
1.3 Fire Risk
In dry or hot weather, dry grass and weeds are highly flammable, posing a serious safety hazard to electrical equipment, inverters, and transmission lines.
1.4 Electrical Safety and Maintenance Difficulties
Excessive vegetation can obstruct access to equipment and even cover electrical wires, increasing the risk of electric shock or equipment damage.
1.5 Regulations and Environmental Compliance
Many regions have specific regulations regarding vegetation height and fire prevention in power plants; non-compliance can lead to penalties or plant shutdowns.
Therefore, regular mowing and vegetation management are essential not only for maintaining power generation efficiency but also for ensuring facility safety, regulatory compliance, and controllable operating costs.
Modern mowing equipment used in solar power plants has far more advanced features and capabilities than traditional manual push or ride-on mowers. Key Features:
2.1 Automation and Robotic Control
Capable of autonomous navigation and path planning, allowing it to move between rows of panels or structural supports without continuous human operation.
2.2 Low Profile or Specialized Design
The mower has a low profile, and its arm or blade design allows it to access narrow spaces under panels or between rows.
2.3 Precise Control of Cutting Height and Area
Adjustable cutting height, selection of appropriate blades and string types, to avoid damaging the panels or obstructing sunlight.
Electric, Eco-friendly Drive: Reduces carbon emissions and noise, aligning with the green and sustainable operation philosophy of solar power plants.
2.4 Continuous Operation and Autonomous Charging, Task Scheduling
Some models can operate automatically day or night according to settings, returning to the charging station after completing tasks, reducing the need for manual inspections.
2.5 Safety Design
Prevents stones or debris from damaging panels; includes collision avoidance and remote stop functions.
2.6 Hybrid Power System
A hybrid power system supports continuous operation for 8 hours, covering up to 20 acres per day, 8 times more efficient than manual labor.
2.7 Intelligent Response Mechanism
Uses infrared thermal imaging to identify areas with severe vegetation cover, prioritizing areas with >5% shading, directly increasing power generation by 3-5%.
Combining these features, robotic mowers offer significant advantages over manual labor in solar power plants:
3.1 Strong Continuous Operation Capability
Robotic or automated mowers do not require frequent breaks like human operators and are less affected by fatigue or weather conditions. In high temperatures or strong sunlight, manual operation is difficult and dangerous, while automated equipment performs reliably.
3.2 High-Frequency, Precise Management
Manual mowing is typically infrequent (e.g., every few weeks or months), often done only after excessive growth; automated or semi-automated mowers can mow more frequently, maintaining ideal vegetation height and reducing shading and fire risks. 3.3 Access to Complex or Hazardous Areas
The layout of components within a power plant, including row spacing, support structures, cables, and uneven terrain or slopes, can restrict or pose hazards to manual operation. Low-profile or flexible mowers can access areas inaccessible to manual labor, such as under panels, between rows, or along slopes.
3.4 Reduced Labor Costs and Safety Risks
Minimizes the number of personnel needed for inspection and maintenance; reduces the risk of injuries from electrical shocks, flying debris, contact with poisonous insects in the soil, or damaged equipment. Automated control or remote operation enhances safety.
3.5 Consistency and Efficiency
Automated path planning and programmed mowers follow optimal paths, minimizing missed or duplicated mowing areas and human error; ensuring consistent results and facilitating maintenance (inspection and cleaning).
3.6 Environmental Friendliness and Brand Image
Using electric or robotic mowers and reducing chemical herbicide use aligns with the environmental image of renewable energy facilities and promotes ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance.
Renu Robotics' automated electric mowing robots are used in large solar power plants to control grass and weed growth, maintaining unobstructed access to panels. They use LiDAR and real-time differential GPS for precise navigation.
A heavy-duty, remotely controlled robotic mower is used at an I&M solar power plant in the US, allowing access under panels to mow without damaging the panel surfaces.
Sol Systems deployed multiple robotic mowers at its Rock Falls project, operating for several hours daily to maintain vegetation height within acceptable limits, reducing labor and improving long-term management efficiency.
While the advantages are significant, several issues need attention to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the mower with the power plant infrastructure:
5.1 Equipment Selection Must Suit the Plant Environment
The mower's height, width, arm length, and cutting head position must accommodate panel row spacing and support height to avoid damage.
The drive system must be suitable for the terrain, including slopes, uneven surfaces, and wet conditions. Consider factors such as traction, chassis structure, wheel type, and weight distribution.
The mowing method (rotary blade, string trimmer, brush cutter, etc.) should be selected to avoid throwing stones or debris, which could damage the panel surface or wiring.
Prioritize flexible blade designs (e.g., with air spring suspension) to prevent damage to the photovoltaic panel frame coating.
For mountainous solar power plants, use models with a torque of ≥175 N·m to ensure stability on slopes.
5.2 Power and Drive System Safety
Electric and battery-powered equipment must have good insulation and waterproof/dustproof design to withstand outdoor weather (sunlight, rain, dew, etc.) and wet environments.
For fuel-powered or hydraulic equipment, control emissions, minimize oil or fuel leaks, and consider the potential impact of noise and vibration on the components.
5.3 Operation and Maintenance Safety Procedures
Before mowing, disconnect or mark any electrical hazards in the power plant, such as exposed wires or high-voltage equipment.
Install an emergency stop button (remote or on-site) for quick shutdown in case of malfunction or obstacles with unmanned or robotic equipment.
Operators must wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and be aware of potential hazards such as flying debris, insects, snakes, and slippery surfaces.
5.4 Work Planning and Frequency
Set the mowing schedule based on vegetation growth rate and seasonal changes to prevent excessive growth that could block sunlight or create fire hazards.
Avoid excessive soil compaction or wheel slippage during rainy season or on wet soil.
Schedule work to avoid extreme weather (high temperatures, thunderstorms, strong winds) and midday sun (11:00-14:00) to prevent overheating of the solar panels. Perform pre-rainy season mowing to avoid muddy conditions affecting traction.
5.5 Avoiding Damage to the System
Plan the mowing path and trajectory to prevent the mower wheels, cutting arm, or blades from hitting the frame or bottom of the panels. Prevent grass clippings and mud splashes from adhering to the component surface, which can cause stains, spots, and reduce light absorption; a cleaning procedure may be necessary.
5.6 Safety Redundancy Design
The 433MHz frequency band remote control requires ensuring no signal interference sources within 100 meters;
Equipped with dual-mode emergency stop (remote control + on-board button) to address unexpected communication interruptions.
5.7 Compliance with Laws and Environmental Standards
Pay attention to local regulations regarding vegetation height, fire hazard management, and environmental protection around the power plant (including wildlife, soil erosion, and water conservation).
If the power plant is located in an area of special ecological value, mowing operations should consider biodiversity protection (e.g., not damaging bee or bird habitats, native plants, etc.).
Mowers, especially modern automatic, robotic, and intelligent mowers, are not merely "weed-control tools" in photovoltaic power plants; they are strategic assets for improving power generation efficiency, reducing safety risks, controlling operating costs, and fulfilling environmental responsibilities. They offer unparalleled advantages in environments where human work is difficult or hazardous—continuous operation, high frequency, precision, and safety. With proper equipment selection, operation planning, and safety protocols, mowers will become an indispensable part of photovoltaic power plant maintenance.
After reading the above, you should have a comprehensive understanding of the advantages of mowers in photovoltaic power plants. If you have any questions about mowers or would like to purchase one, please contact us. We can customize mowers according to your requirements.
