Burns & McDonnell and Gritt Partner to Deploy AI Robots for Utility-Scale Solar Projects

en.Wedoany.com Reported - U.S. EPC engineering firm Burns & McDonnell and construction technology company Gritt have announced a strategic partnership to evaluate and deploy AI-driven robotics technology in utility-scale solar projects. The collaboration aims to address labor shortages, enhance installation safety, and improve delivery predictability for large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

Gritt's technology is delivered through modular hardware attachments that can be retrofitted onto standard construction equipment such as skid steer loaders and forklifts, enabling autonomous execution of repetitive construction tasks—including solar array placement and assembly, concrete pouring, and rebar installation—without the need for specialized machinery. Its physical AI software has been developed by a team of robotics and AI experts from Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Over the past year, the two companies have conducted field testing and evaluation of Gritt's technology at multiple utility-scale solar project sites. Unlike manufacturing robots that operate in indoor factory environments, Gritt's AI models are specifically trained for outdoor construction sites, capable of handling uneven terrain, extreme weather conditions, and changing site logistics, while continuously processing on-site data during operations to optimize autonomous workflow execution.

Adam Bernardi, Director of Burns & McDonnell's Renewable Energy business line, stated: "Solar construction is highly repetitive work—moving 80-pound (approximately 36 kg) photovoltaic modules every day. As solar plant scales continue to grow, we have the opportunity to leverage technology to help our teams work safer, faster, and smarter."Vishal Dugar, Co-founder and CTO of Gritt, noted that the system is designed to seamlessly integrate into workflows that construction crews are already familiar with, enabling rapid deployment and scaling without disruptive process changes.

Gritt has raised over $32 million in cumulative funding, with investors including Obvious Ventures. The company has signed contracts to help install nearly 3 GW of solar capacity over the next 18 months. Burns & McDonnell stated that initial deployment focuses on solar array assembly, and the company plans to evaluate expanding the robotic platform to other power and infrastructure construction sectors. Chad Cotter, Vice President of Construction at Burns & McDonnell, stated: "While we are currently deploying this technology in solar construction, the broader opportunity spans the full spectrum of critical infrastructure."