Gritt exits stealth with $34 million for robots to build solar plants—then, everything else

techcrunch.com Jul 21, 2026

Gritt exits stealth with $34 million for robots to build solar plants—then, everything else

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 21, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Gritt, a robotics startup founded by Carnegie Mellon-trained roboticists Puneet Puri and Vishal Dugar, exited stealth mode with a $26 million Series A funding round led by Obvious Ventures. This investment brings the company’s total funding to $34 million, following an earlier seed round. Gritt develops an AI-driven system designed to automate labor-intensive construction tasks, specifically focusing on solar panel installation. Rather than manufacturing proprietary hardware, the company utilizes off-the-shelf equipment like skidders and robotic arms controlled by its intelligent software. The system currently handles unloading, transporting, and positioning solar panels with sub-millimeter accuracy. Field tests indicate that crews using Gritt’s technology can install 3,000 to 4,000 panels daily, significantly outperforming the 800 panels installed by traditional eight-person crews. Gritt has secured contracts to assist in installing 2.8 gigawatts of solar capacity over the next 18 months, partnering with three of the top ten US power construction firms. The company aims to deploy 48 systems within six months, leveraging recent advances in AI to generalize its software across various construction tasks beyond solar installation.

💡 Why It Matters

· By leveraging off-the-shelf hardware and advanced AI, Gritt offers a scalable solution to the critical labor shortage in renewable energy infrastructure.
· This approach potentially lowers barriers to entry compared to competitors building proprietary robots, accelerating the deployment of solar capacity.

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35.5%! LONGi Once Again Breaks World Record for Crystalline Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar…

At the 2026 Solar and Energy Storage Innovation Conference, LONGi announced its crystalline silicon‑perovskite tandem solar cell achieved a certified conversion efficiency of 35.5%, setting a new world record. The record follows a series of incremental gains—33.9% in November 2023, 34.6% in June 2024, and 35.2% earlier this year—demonstrating the company’s rapid R&D progress. The tandem cell, tested by the European Solar Test Installation, surpasses the Shockley–Queisser limit and approaches the theoretical 43% ceiling. Industrial‑scale tests showed 34.3% (261 cm²) and 32.2% (274 cm²) efficiencies, while module tests reached 31.4% and 29.4%, all certified by independent authorities and listed in the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables. LONGi’s tiered R&D strategy aims to translate laboratory breakthroughs into mass‑produced, high‑efficiency modules, reinforcing its leadership in clean‑energy technology.

💡 The 35.5% efficiency milestone narrows the gap to the theoretical limit, accelerating the commercial viability of tandem photovoltaics. It signals a pivotal shift toward higher‑yield solar solutions that could lower grid‑connected costs and hasten global renewable adoption.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 21

Groups Take First Step Toward Lawsuit Against TVA Over Clean Air Act…

The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing Appalachian Voices and the Sierra Club, issued a notice of intent to sue the Tennessee Valley Authority for Clean Air Act violations at its Kingston site. TVA previously planned to retire the 70-year-old coal plant but reversed course in February, deciding to operate both the coal facility and a new methane gas plant simultaneously. Environmental groups argue this dual operation requires a “major source” permit, yet TVA proceeded with construction using a less protective “minor modification” permit. The utility acknowledges that running both plants necessitates stricter compliance, including modern pollution controls. Critics contend TVA is sidestepping legal obligations to power data centers, threatening East Tennessee air quality. The combined facilities emit thousands of tons of harmful pollutants annually, linked to asthma and cancer. TVA estimates over $636 million in costs to maintain the coal plant, expenses passed to consumers. Groups warn that without proper permitting and public input, the utility’s actions endanger community health and violate federal mandates designed to protect public welfare from industrial emissions.

💡 This legal challenge exposes how utilities may exploit regulatory loopholes to extend fossil fuel infrastructure for data center demand, bypassing essential health protections. It sets a critical precedent for holding public power entities accountable when they reverse retirement commitments to prioritize corporate energy needs over statutory environmental mandates.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

South Australia’s Lunio Energy brings 20MWh grid-scale battery storage system online

South Australian developer Lunio Energy has commissioned its first grid‑scale battery energy storage system (BESS) at Strathalbyn, a 5 MW/20 MWh facility located about 60 km south of Adelaide, and begun trading in the National Electricity Market. The battery stores electricity when market prices are low and discharges when prices rise, with future participation planned in frequency control ancillary services (FCAS). Optimisation and market bidding are handled by OptiGrid’s AI‑driven OptiBidder platform, which also manages over 170 MW of Australian BESS assets. Lunio Energy, part of the broader Lunio Group, selected OptiGrid after its strong capture‑rate performance. The system already operated during June’s price‑cap events, demonstrating the revenue potential of precise state‑of‑charge management in South Australia’s volatile market.

💡 Precise AI optimisation turns South Australia’s price volatility into measurable profit, proving that sophisticated forecasting can unlock value from short‑duration price spikes.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

European Energy reaches financial close on 80MWh Mokoan solar-plus-storage site in Australia

European Energy secured AU$110 million (US$77 million) of non‑recourse financing from Deutsche Bank to refinance its 58 MWp Mokoan Solar Farm and fund a co‑located 40 MW/80 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Victoria, Australia. The solar plant, operating since June 2025 on 94 ha near Wangaratta, produces about 113 GWh annually and was selected under the Australian government’s Capacity Investment Scheme, which provides long‑term revenue support. The financing package includes a term loan, hedging and ancillary facilities, and marks the second Australian financial close for European Energy within three weeks, following the Winton North solar‑plus‑storage project. Deutsche Bank highlighted the deal as evidence of rising institutional appetite for integrated renewable assets, adding to its support of over 12 GW of Australian renewables since 2019.

💡 The combined solar‑storage model offers investors a single, flexible asset that can deliver both steady generation and grid‑balancing services, accelerating the shift toward reliable, contract‑backed renewable power.

energy-storage.news · Jul 21

India awards long-duration energy storage contracts for 1,344MW pumped hydro, utility-scale flow…

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) awarded 1,344 MW of pumped‑hydro capacity through a reverse‑auction to Tata Power (324 MW), Greenko (720 MW) and Torrent Energy Storage Solutions (300 MW), under tariff‑based competitive bidding and long‑term PPAs. The tender, launched in late 2025, was revised to target up to 1,500 MW of 12‑hour storage, reflecting the nation’s push for long‑duration energy storage (LDES). Simultaneously, Indian startup Delectrik secured a contract to supply a 100 MWh vanadium redox flow battery for the 30 GW Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy Park, marking the country’s first large‑scale flow‑battery deployment. SECI’s contracts follow a broader policy drive that includes streamlined clearances, transmission charge waivers and an estimated need for 74 GW of storage by 2032, rising to 90 GW of pumped hydro by 2047.

💡 The dual awards accelerate India’s transition to grid‑scale, multi‑hour storage, directly addressing the capacity gap needed to balance its rapidly expanding renewable fleet.

cleantechnica.com · Jul 21

Hyundai Motor Group Expands Korea’s Hydrogen Ecosystem with First Group-Operated Waste-To-Hydrogen Facility

Hyundai Motor Group launched HTWO ENERGY Cheongju, its first integrated waste‑to‑hydrogen (W2H) production and refueling hub, converting biogas from local wastewater sludge into about 500 kg of hydrogen daily. The Cheongju site, backed by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, is positioned as an inland hydrogen logistics center and part of South Korea’s Hydrogen City Creation Project. The output can fuel roughly 100 new NEXO fuel‑cell vehicles or 30 hydrogen buses, and the facility includes a Hydrogen Academy for public education. Hyundai plans to expand capacity to two metric tons per day by 2030, using the model to roll out similar W2H ecosystems in Indonesia, Hong Kong and other markets, aiming for localized, self‑sufficient hydrogen supply chains.

💡 By turning municipal waste into transport‑grade hydrogen on‑site, Hyundai cuts reliance on imported coastal hydrogen and creates a replicable blueprint for carbon‑neutral mobility in cities worldwide.