Will AI replace Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians?

AI can do 6% of the work Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 2 of them. Robots can technically handle 13 physical tasks. 6 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next2 · 6% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Design active direct or indirect, passive direct or indirect, or pool solar systems.3% of time
  • Demonstrate start-up, shut-down, maintenance, diagnostic, and safety procedures to thermal system owners.3% of time

Robots can technically do this13 · 56% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Install solar collector mounting devices on tile, asphalt, shingle, or built-up gravel roofs, using appropriate materials and penetration methods.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Test operation or functionality of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and control systems.Robots: purpose built settings8% of time
  • Install flat-plat, evacuated glass, or concentrating solar collectors on mounting devices, using brackets or struts.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Install plumbing, such as dip tubes, port fittings, drain tank valves, pressure temperature relief valves, or tanks, according to manufacturer specifications and building codes.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Install circulating pumps using pipe, fittings, soldering equipment, electrical supplies, and hand tools.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Install solar thermal system controllers and sensors.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Apply weather seal, such as pipe flashings and sealants, to roof penetrations and structural devices.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Assess collector sites to ensure structural integrity of potential mounting surfaces or the best orientation and tilt for solar collectors.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Fill water tanks and check tanks, pipes, and fittings for leaks.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Install heat exchangers and heat exchanger fluids according to installation manuals and schematics.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Install monitoring system components, such as flow meters, temperature gauges, and pressure gauges, according to system design and manufacturer specifications.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Apply operation or identification tags or labels to system components, as required.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Apply ultraviolet radiation protection to prevent degradation of plumbing.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person6 · 38% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Install copper or plastic plumbing using pipes, fittings, pipe cutters, acetylene torches, solder, wire brushes, sand cloths, flux, plastic pipe cleaners, or plastic glue.14% of time
  • Perform routine maintenance or repairs to restore solar thermal systems to baseline operating conditions.10% of time
  • Connect water heaters and storage tanks to power and water sources.6% of time
  • Determine locations for installing solar subsystem components, including piping, water heaters, valves, and ancillary equipment.3% of time
  • Identify plumbing, electrical, environmental, or safety hazards associated with solar thermal installations.3% of time
  • Cut, miter, and glue piping insulation to insulate plumbing pipes and fittings.3% of time

Your week is not the average

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 56% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 2 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 13 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 6 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Pipelayers0%Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters10%Carpenters5%Construction Laborers5%Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators7%Structural Iron and Steel Workers5%

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