Nestled in New Zealand’s rugged mountain terrain, this solar farm faced one of the toughest vegetation management challenges in the region. Frequent rainfall, steep slopes, and limited access made traditional mowing unsafe and inefficient. By deploying the BotusMov remote control slope mower, the site achieved a remarkable 90% boost in efficiency, 80% reduction in manual labor, and a 63% decrease in O&M costs — setting a new benchmark for safe and sustainable solar farm maintenance in complex landscapes.
The Challenge
Before adopting a robotic solution, the maintenance team needed four to five workers to clear vegetation on each section of the slope.
The process was slow, labor-intensive, and prone to safety incidents such as slips and minor injuries.
“Every summer, mowing the slopes felt like a war,” said the project manager.
“The labor cost was high, and the downtime caused by overgrown vegetation directly affected the site’s power generation.”
The Solution
The turning point came when the team tested the BotusMov Remote Control Slope Mower (Model MC700) during a demo session.
The mower’s powerful track drive and remote operation capability allowed it to handle inclines over 35°, dense grass, and wet ground with ease.
Operators could safely control the machine from a distance, completely avoiding dangerous manual slope work.
“It was an eye-opener. We immediately realized this was the future of slope maintenance,” said the maintenance supervisor.
“The mower climbed the hillside, cleared everything in one pass, and finished the job faster than five people combined.”
Performance & Results
After two weeks of continuous operation, the results were clear:
| Metric | Before | After Using Remote Control Slope Mower | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers required per section | 4–5 | 1–2 | ↓ 60% |
| Average mowing speed | 1.5 acres/day | 3.5 acres/day | ↑ 75% |
| Power yield (due to reduced shading) | – | +4–5% | — |
| Labor safety incidents | 2–3 per month | 0 | Eliminated |
| Maintenance cost efficiency | – | +20% gross margin | — |
The mower’s track system also performed exceptionally well on rocky slopes and uneven soil, keeping balance and stability throughout the task.
“It not only saved us manpower but made the entire operation safer,” said the project manager.
“Now we can assign our staff to more technical inspection and cleaning tasks instead of risky mowing.”
After-Sales & Reliability
The maintenance team also praised BotusMov after-sales support and spare parts service.
With quick parts delivery and remote technical guidance, downtime was minimized even under high usage.
“We’ve used it for a full season without any major failures. It’s reliable, efficient, and perfectly adapted to solar farms in hilly regions,” said the customer.
Conclusion
For mountain-based solar farms, the remote control slope mower has proven to be a safe, cost-effective, and reliable alternative to manual vegetation work.
It not only improved safety and labor efficiency but also boosted the site’s overall energy yield.
