Built Robotics and Blattner have already successfully deployed solar power projects. Source: Built Robotics
Not only is artificial intelligence making robots more capable, but it is also driving demand for power and data center construction. Blattner Co. and Built Robotics Inc. today announced a $75 million contract to scale autonomous construction systems across Blattner projects nationwide.
The companies said the agreement expands on their partnership announced last year and builds on seven successful deployments on utility-scale solar projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of capacity.
“To capture the immense opportunities in today’s market, we have to relentlessly innovate,” stated Brandon Bruski, senior vice president for solar at Blattner. “Deepening our technology partnership with Built Robotics cements our position as the leader in building solar infrastructure better, faster, and safer. This commitment helps us continue to prioritize the safety of our workforce and meet the nation’s soaring energy needs.”
With more than 115 years of construction experience, Blattner has built critical infrastructure across the U.S., ranging from railroads and highways to dams and mines. Since 1997, the Avon, Minn.-based company has focused on renewable energy.
Blattner said it has installed over 20% of America’s utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage capacity. It is the parent of Blattner Energy and D.H. Blattner & Sons, which are members of the Quanta Services Inc. family of companies.
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The demand for new power generation has reached record highs, fueled largely by the rapid growth of data centers and AI, noted Built Robotics. This surge has catalyzed unprecedented expansion in solar and battery storage construction, where Blattner said it is the industry leader.
“Ten years ago, solar was alternative energy,” said Noah Ready-Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Built Robotics. “Today, it’s dominating the energy landscape, with over 80% of new power capacity coming from solar and batteries. Boosted by physical AI, solar is poised to become the backbone of our electric grid in the 21st century.”
To harness this momentum and bolster national energy independence, Blattner is deploying Built’s technology “to reimagine jobsites for the age of AI.”
Founded in 2016, Built Robotics offers construction systems for the $300 billion utility-scale solar industry. The San Francisco-based company is backed by investors including Founders Fund, NEA, and Tiger Global. It recently partnered with University of Pennsylvania’s Safe Autonomous Systems Lab (xLAB) to turn construction sites into a proving ground for physical AI.
Blattner grows with Built Robotics autonomous systems
Amidst persistent labor shortages across the construction industry, physical AI can dramatically enhance jobsite productivity, enabling crews to get more done with less, asserted Built Robotics. The company said its technology upgrades existing heavy equipment to deliver Level 4 autonomy, which completely removes the operator from the cab.
It claimed that this transition minimizes human exposure to heavy machinery, mitigating traditional jobsite safety risks. Built added that its system can integrate with equipment from all the major equipment OEMs and that it supports equipment classes such as excavators, bulldozers, and loaders.
“In addition to improving safety and maximizing labor productivity, autonomous systems facilitate continuous operations during late-night shifts and inclement weather, enhancing schedule certainty and reducing time to power,” said Built.
“The pressure is on to build out the grid at a pace we’ve never seen before,” said Ready-Campbell. “Working with the team at Blattner has been fantastic because they are way ahead in using AI to empower their people. We’re proud to extend this partnership and keep putting our autonomous equipment to work on critical infrastructure projects around the country.”
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