Terabase Energy Launches Terafab V2, an AI-Powered Robotic System That Can Build a Gigawatt of Solar Per Year
Terabase Energy's next-generation automated solar construction platform completes field testing and enters commercial deployment, targeting 10 GW annual capacity by 2027.
Overview
Terabase Energy, a Berkeley-based startup specializing in digital and automation solutions for utility-scale solar, has announced that its next-generation Terafab V2 automated construction platform has completed field testing and is now commercially available. A single Terafab production line operates on two-minute cycles and can install roughly 20 megawatts of solar capacity per week when running continuously, translating to approximately one gigawatt per factory per year, according to the company’s press release on BusinessWire.
The system enters the market as the United States faces surging electricity demand from data centers and AI infrastructure, compounded by persistent labor shortages in the construction sector.
How It Works
Terafab V2 inverts the traditional solar installation workflow. Rather than assembling components in the field, the system pre-assembles solar modules onto tracker torque tubes inside an outdoor factory erected on-site, with inline quality control checks at every step. Defects are caught immediately during assembly rather than after panels have been deployed across a project site, as reported by Electrek.
Purpose-built rovers then transport the completed assemblies to their designated locations across the solar farm. Terabase has indicated that these rovers are expected to become fully autonomous in the near future, according to Electrek. A Manufacturing Execution System powered by artificial intelligence continuously optimizes the construction process across the entire plant, per the company’s press release.
The platform is designed to operate in harsh outdoor conditions including desert dust, extreme heat, wind, rain, and mud.
Scale-Up Plans
Terabase currently has two deployable Terafab V2 factories operational, with a third expected by the end of 2026. The company plans to scale to ten factories by the second quarter of 2027, with its Northern California manufacturing facility capable of supporting up to 10 gigawatts of annual installation capacity, according to the company’s press release.
CEO and co-founder Matt Campbell framed the ambition in terms of project economics: “Every week we shave off a construction schedule means earlier revenue for project owners, lower financing costs, and faster delivery of clean electrons to the grid,” as quoted by Electrek.
The first-generation Terafab system was deployed across five solar projects, where developers reported improvements in productivity, build quality, and safety, according to Electrek. By eliminating manual lifting of heavy steel and glass components, the system addresses one of the most common sources of construction-site injuries.
Funding and Backing
Terabase has raised over $200 million to date. A $130 million Series C round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 closed in March 2025, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Prelude Ventures, according to BusinessWire. The system is designed and manufactured in the United States.
What We Don’t Know
Terabase has not disclosed specific pricing for the Terafab V2 system or the per-watt cost reduction it delivers compared to conventional manual installation. The company’s claim of approximately one gigawatt per factory per year assumes continuous 24/7 operation, and real-world throughput on active construction sites with variable weather and logistics constraints may differ. It also remains to be seen how quickly the company can secure customers for its planned fleet of ten factories, and whether the utility-scale solar market can absorb the implied 10 GW of annual automated installation capacity by mid-2027.