Spain-based independent power producer (IPP) Matrix Renewables is deploying Terafab V2, an automated solar construction platform developed by US-based Terabase Energy, at part of its 457 MW Tormes Solar project in Navarro County, Texas. California-based Solv Energy is serving as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor on the project.
Terafab V2 combines robotic assembly, AI-assisted quality inspection and autonomous vehicles to streamline module assembly and transportation, shifting labor-intensive construction activities from the solar field to an automated production line installed on-site.
According to Matrix Renewables, PV modules and structural components are delivered to the on-site assembly line, where robotic equipment mounts the modules onto tracker torque tubes. The completed assemblies then pass through an integrated quality inspection system before being transported to their installation locations.
The modular “factory” is designed for rapid deployment and relocation within a construction site. Terabase says the latest version can be moved and set up in approximately four hours, allowing the assembly line to be repositioned as construction progresses.
Following inspection, robotic equipment loads the completed assemblies onto autonomous vehicles, known as rovers, which transport them to designated locations in the solar field. Workers then unload the assemblies and install them onto prepositioned tracker supports.
Terafab V2 incorporates a manufacturing execution system (MES) to coordinate assembly operations, material flows, quality inspections and transportation.
The platform also integrates construction planning, inventory management and logistics software with a digital twin of the project site. AI-assisted tools support workflow optimization and the coordination of automated equipment.
The system’s modular architecture allows multiple assembly lines to operate at a single project, increasing production capacity according to construction requirements.
Terabase says Terafab V2 is designed for continuous operation, with a production cycle of approximately two minutes per assembly. According to the company, each line could achieve an output of around 20 MW per week under continuous operating conditions.
The company claims its automated construction approach can double labor productivity compared with conventional utility-scale PV installation methods. Actual output depends on project configuration, equipment utilization and site conditions.
Terabase has been developing its automated solar construction technology for several years.
As pv magazine reported in August 2022, the company raised $44 million in a Series B financing round to support its digital and robotic construction platforms. Earlier that year, it had deployed its technology to install 10 MW of capacity at a 400 MW solar project in central Texas.
In May 2023, Terabase announced the launch of its Terafab automated installation system and opened a manufacturing facility in Woodland, California. The company described the plant as a “factory to make factories.”
Later that year, Terabase completed its first commercial Terafab installation, using the system to build 17 MW of a 225 MW solar project in Arizona developed by Leeward Renewable Energy, with RES serving as the construction contractor.
The V2 platform represents a further step in the company’s automation strategy. In April 2026, Terabase told pv magazine that the upgraded system had completed field testing and was ready for commercial deployment.
The new version features a more compact factory design, increased automation and faster assembly operations. It is currently optimized for First Solar Series 7 modules and Nextpower trackers, although Terabase plans to expand compatibility with other module and tracker technologies.
Terabase said the first-generation Terafab platform had been used to install approximately 40 MW of tracker-mounted solar capacity across several US projects.
While the current system automates module assembly, inspection, loading and transportation, the final installation of the assembled PV tables onto tracker supports still requires workers. Terabase has said it is developing additional robotics to automate this step in a future version of the platform.
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