Project Mu Scuti, Ahmadnagar-Gunore Solar Plant Case Study: 5 MW Waterless Robotic Cleaning Project in Maharashtra

Executive summary

As solar portfolios expand across India, plant owners are increasingly focused on building maintenance programs that can be replicated across multiple sites without compromising performance. The Ahmadnagar-Gunore solar plant in Maharashtra demonstrates how structured robotic cleaning can create a repeatable operations model that supports energy generation, water conservation, and long-term asset reliability.

To improve cleaning consistency and reduce dependence on conventional washing methods, the plant adopted Taypro's NYUMA semi-automatic robotic cleaning solution under a CAPEX ownership model. The deployment introduced scheduled waterless cleaning supported by weekly block planning, inspection-based verification, and weather-aware operating procedures.

Today, two NYUMA semi-automatic robotic cleaners provide cleaning coverage across the 5 MW ground-mounted solar facility, helping operators maintain module cleanliness while establishing a standardized maintenance framework that can be replicated across similar utility-scale assets.

Project Overview

The Challenge: Creating Consistent Cleaning Standards Across Utility Assets

Dust accumulation remains one of the most common causes of avoidable performance loss in ground-mounted solar plants. In regions such as Maharashtra, agricultural activity, vehicle movement, and seasonal dry conditions can create recurring soiling that gradually reduces module efficiency.

For operators managing multiple solar assets, the challenge extends beyond cleaning itself. The real requirement is developing a repeatable process that ensures cleaning activities are planned, executed, verified, and documented consistently across different sites.

Before robotic cleaning, maintaining this level of consistency often depended on labour availability, water logistics, and manual supervision. As portfolio operators increasingly seek standardized O&M practices, robotic cleaning offers a more structured alternative.

Why NYUMA Was Selected

The Ahmadnagar-Gunore project selected Taypro's NYUMA semi-automatic robotic cleaning platform because of its ability to combine flexibility with operational consistency.

Portable robotic cleaning systems allow technicians to move equipment between plant blocks while following defined cleaning schedules and documented workflows. This makes the solution particularly suitable for small and mid-sized utility-scale plants where operational simplicity and repeatability are important.

With two NYUMA robots serving the 5 MW facility, the deployment achieves approximately 0.40 robots per MW while maintaining effective cleaning coverage and efficient resource utilization.

The waterless cleaning process also eliminates routine dependence on water-intensive cleaning methods, reducing both operating costs and environmental impact.

Building a Repeatable Operations Model

A defining characteristic of the Gunore deployment is its focus on process standardization.

Weekly block plans establish clear cleaning priorities, while inspection sign-offs provide verification that cleaning activities have been completed as scheduled. This structured workflow creates accountability while ensuring operational consistency from week to week.

By treating robotic cleaning as a formal part of plant maintenance rather than an occasional activity, operators gain improved visibility into cleaning performance and maintenance execution.

Key operational responsibilities include:

• Weekly block planning and execution

• Cleaning completion verification

• Brush maintenance and inspection

• Weather-related operational holds

• Maintenance reporting and documentation

• Preventive maintenance scheduling

Weather-Aware Cleaning Strategy

Cleaning schedules at Gunore are adjusted according to actual site conditions rather than fixed daily washing routines.

During high-soiling periods, operators prioritize blocks that exhibit faster dust accumulation or performance variation. Areas exposed to prevailing winds, nearby roads, and open agricultural land often require greater cleaning attention during peak dust seasons.

Following effective rainfall, cleaning cycles may be temporarily reduced because natural rinsing lowers immediate cleaning requirements. Wind conditions are also monitored before cleaning operations commence.

This weather-aware strategy helps maximize cleaning effectiveness while ensuring efficient deployment of resources.

Water Savings and Operational Efficiency

One of the primary benefits reported by the site is a substantial reduction in water consumption.

Through the implementation of waterless robotic cleaning, the project reports annual water savings of approximately 700,000 litres. Eliminating routine wet-cleaning activities reduces water transportation requirements, minimizes operational disruptions, and supports more sustainable maintenance practices.

For solar asset owners, water conservation increasingly represents both an environmental and economic advantage.

Supporting Additional Energy Generation

Maintaining cleaner module surfaces helps reduce energy losses caused by dust accumulation and contributes to more stable plant performance throughout the year.

According to site-reported operational data, the robotic cleaning program contributes approximately 187.5 MWh of additional annual energy generation.

Although actual performance improvements vary according to local operating conditions, maintaining structured cleaning schedules helps support long-term energy yield and reduce avoidable soiling losses.

Generation-attribution assumptions should always be validated using SCADA data and project-specific performance analysis.

Environmental Impact

The combination of water conservation and improved renewable energy generation contributes to the project's environmental performance profile.

Based on reported operational outcomes, the site is associated with approximately 93 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent reduction annually.

These results support sustainability reporting, ESG initiatives, and broader environmental objectives for plant owners and stakeholders.

Commissioning and Integration

The deployment was designed to integrate robotic cleaning seamlessly into existing O&M workflows.

Commissioning activities included:

• Cleaning route and block assessment

• Identification of priority cleaning zones

• Operator training and safety procedures

• Cleaning workflow development

• Inspection and reporting setup

• Preventive maintenance planning

Following handover, robotic cleaning became part of the site's routine maintenance calendar.

Lessons for Solar Portfolio Owners

The Ahmadnagar-Gunore project demonstrates how robotic cleaning can help establish consistent maintenance standards across utility-scale solar assets.

• Waterless cleaning reduces dependence on water-intensive maintenance.

• Weekly planning improves operational discipline.

• Inspection-based verification strengthens accountability.

• Portable robotic systems support flexible deployment.

• Standardized workflows improve scalability across multiple sites.

Project Results Summary

Conclusion

The Ahmadnagar-Gunore solar project demonstrates how robotic cleaning can help solar asset owners build a repeatable, scalable, and water-efficient maintenance strategy.

Using two NYUMA semi-automatic robotic cleaning units supported by weekly planning and inspection-led verification, the site established a structured cleaning framework that supports operational consistency, energy generation, and sustainability objectives.

For utility-scale solar operators seeking reliable waterless cleaning solutions, Gunore serves as a practical example of how robotic cleaning can contribute to both operational performance and long-term portfolio standardization.

All water savings, generation uplift, and carbon reduction figures are site-reported and should be independently validated using SCADA data, performance analysis, and project-specific operating assumptions.