PVBOT Cleaner is an innovative, fast, and fully automated cleaning robot for medium and large-sized PV farms with a unique hot spot detection technology. It works 10 times faster than manual labor and requires no water at all.
Energy Innovation Hub is a platform that combines unique ideas and innovative solutions in the energy sector, aiming to help power Lebanon. PVBOT Cleaner, founded by Guy Bejjany and Elie Sebaaly is currently enrolled in our Energy Innovation Hub , where we offer financial and technical support with partners as well as networking opportunities with industry experts and potential clients.
- What inspired you to establish PVBOT Cleaner? How did you come up with the idea?
It all started as a graduation thesis project: two engineers with passion for technology and renewable energy have sketched on a piece of paper the concept of an autonomous robot that would substitute manual labor in cleaning PV farms in order to defend solar panels efficiency. That wild and futuristic idea turned out very fast to be the most promising solution for PV cleaning.
- What makes PVBOT Cleaner unique and different from other solutions within the market?
Being cost efficient and fast using the conveyor and hotspot detection features. PVBOT abolished any real competition ranging from manual labor that is slow and expensive, going through cleaning trucks that require service spacing and reaching the “row dedicated robots”.
- What are the challenges you faced while launching your business and how did you overcome them?
Our business has encountered a number of challenges that are essential to its development; the most significant of which is related to the people we will hire since they must have high levels of experience because we work with high-tech products. As a startup, we lacked the ability to persuade them. In addition to the financial difficulties, and here it is worth noting that the founders of the company are engineers who lack the experience in marketing, sales, finance, and business growth strategies. However, we were able to overcome this owing to the programs and accelerators that we took part in, which enabled us to attend courses and gain the necessary experience, as well as receive support from the knowledgeable mentors who assisted us in growing the firm.
- In your opinion, what is the key to success? What is an advice that you would give other startups in the industry?
You always have to believe in the strength of your idea and its impact on society. You must also know that any startup company is exposed to a lot of ups and downs, but with perseverance and planning you can succeed.
As an advice, we urge entrepreneurs who are starting their own enterprises to link their concepts to sustainable energy due to the numerous advantages it offers to both human life and the environment.
- What should we expect next from PVBOT Cleaner?
We plan on making renewable energy technologies accessible, affordable and beneficial for both households and businesses around the globe and we started that by inventing an autonomous solution for solar panels cleaning. Till now, we managed to finish the MVP, register a patent and introduce the mobile platform, and our next step is raising funds to initiate a proof of concept while launching the production of PVBOT Cleaner.
