Goldbeck Solar has won The smarter E Award 2026 in the Photovoltaics category for its self-developed automation system, HeliomatiX.

With this solution, the German EPC company aims to redefine the construction of utility-scale solar parks with the solution. It consists of three core components designed to significantly accelerate solar park construction and reduce weather dependency. The first is the Assembly Hub, a mobile, container-based pre-assembly unit installed directly on site. It can assemble up to four modules in portrait orientation while simultaneously inspecting each module for damage, scanning its serial number, and securely clamping it in place.

In the second step, a crawler transports the pre-assembled modules to the installation area. The autonomous electric vehicle operates independently of ground conditions, rain, or other environmental constraints. This also applies to the third component, Automatic Mounting System(aMoS), a robotic excavator equipped with sensors and a precision gripper that automatically places modules onto the pre-installed mounting structure.

Every 60 seconds, pre-assembled modules leave the Assembly Hub. In theory, up to 1 MW of PV capacity could be installed within eight hours using the system, Ralf Steinheiser, Head of Innovation & Technology at Golbeck Solar said. The automation approach could reduce man-hours for module assembly by up to 85%. It also shifts workforce requirements on site, with less manual installation work and more focus on monitoring, control, and technical coordination.

According to Goldbeck Solar, the system is the first of its kind for fixed-tilt mounting structures. Final setup is expected in the coming weeks, Steinheiser said. The Assembly Hub requires a 55 m installation area and consists of six 40-foot containers. The company plans to test HeliomatiX in a real-world project in the second half of 2026, currently seeking a suitable PV site. A second assembly line is also planned to create redundancy and potentially increase installation speed.

For the first two years, the system will be used exclusively in-house. After that, Goldbeck Solar intends to offer it to external customers. Development has taken around three years and was carried out in cooperation with a mounting structure manufacturer. A key element is the module carrier, which was redesigned for automated assembly and features a flexible width to accommodate different module types.