Drones and Robots: Revolutionizing Renewable Energy Maintenance

In the realm of renewable energy, specifically solar panel maintenance, traditional inspection methods have faced significant obstacles. Workers often inspect photovoltaic panels manually, dealing with various issues like hot spots, physical damage, and dust buildup. This process is tedious, physically demanding, and presents safety risks, not to mention how it drives up maintenance costs.

Now, an intriguing solution is emerging: the collaborative use of drones and robots. This synergy can create an efficient operational framework for both inspection and maintenance tasks. Companies like Skysys Intelligent Technology are at the forefront of this movement, advancing the integration of drone and robotic technologies for renewable energy operations.

Skysys has reported a significant deployment of their systems across over 1,400 renewable energy sites worldwide, amounting to more than 40 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. To fuel further development of their renewable energy robots and expand applications into urban low-altitude operations, the company successfully raised over RMB 100 million in a Series B+ funding round in June 2025, following prior investments in the previous year.

Advancing Through Technology

Initially, Skysys focused on drone docking systems that facilitated automated inspection flights within smart cities. The introduction of AI-driven defect detection transformed these systems from mere data-collection devices to comprehensive inspection platforms. By around 2018-2019, the technology migrated into solar farms, a sector where the demand for automated inspections was particularly strong. The systems began to identify defects in solar panels, power grid equipment, and later, wind turbines, eliminating the reliance on manual reviews.

Co-founder Dr. Xiao Suzhi emphasized that energy demand persists regardless of economic fluctuations, solidifying solar and wind power as pivotal areas for Skysys' innovations. This transition led the company to specialize its products for large-scale energy operations, enhancing their practicality and application.

From Detection to Intervention

As the market for drone docking technology became increasingly saturated, Skysys recognized the need to evolve. Innovations revealed that merely identifying problems wasn’t enough; actionable solutions were necessary. By 2020, Skysys expanded its lineup beyond inspection into maintenance functions. For example, while drones could identify defects in solar setups, increasing power output still necessitated ground intervention.

To address this gap, Skysys introduced maintenance robots designed for tasks like cleaning. "Our ultimate goal remains to deliver economic value for the customer," noted Dr. Xiao. These maintenance solutions not only enhance power generation but also mitigate safety risks and promote long-term asset management.

Targeting Global Markets

Skysys is strategically focusing on markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, as stated by Wang Xueyan, the company’s head of marketing. Their international business primarily revolves around solar inspection and intelligent security. Their new solar-cleaning robots are predominantly marketed in Europe and Asia-Pacific, indicating a clear direction for global outreach. Recently, Skysys was highlighted as part of the "2026 AI Going Global Future Unicorn Top 100" list during an event at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo.

Impressive deployments include collaborations in Japan with Huawei for drone inspections of challenging mountainous solar farms and the utilization of drones in Indonesia to inspect floating solar setups—these tools complete diagnostics in about 15 to 20 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional labor-intensive methods.

Europe is proving to be a critical market for Skysys’ solar-cleaning robots, where high labor costs meet increasing demand for optimized solar output. With a price tag just over €10,000 for exported units, there's a notable return on investment potential; one estimate for an Australian client suggested a payback period of approximately eight months based on local energy rates.

Brand Visibility Challenges

As a rising startup, Skysys has distinguished itself in the energy operation and maintenance sector through its focus on low-altitude intelligence, yet it grapples with limited brand recognition in overseas markets. “We still need to explore new markets and expand our presence,” Wang commented, reinforcing the strategy of partnering with established companies to enhance market entry and development.