China is accelerating the use of robotics in one of its most critical systems: the national power grid. The state-owned State Grid Corporation of China has outlined plans to invest about $1 billion (roughly 6.8 billion yuan) to procure around 8,500 robots, with deployment expected to scale through 2026. These machines will assist with inspection and maintenance across substations and transmission networks, including in remote or hazardous environments. The move reflects a broader effort to improve efficiency, safety and reliability in electricity delivery as demand rises, while also advancing China’s ambitions in industrial robotics and AI-enabled infrastructure.
