The coming robotics wave

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Mar 20, 2025

In this discussion, Andy Lubershane, a partner and head of research at Energy Impact Partners, brings his expertise in robotics to the forefront. He explores how AI advancements are making robots both cheaper and more powerful, revolutionizing industries like manufacturing and construction. The conversation highlights the potential of robotics-as-a-service models to counteract high startup costs and addresses the looming labor shortages in climate tech. Lubershane also shares insights on the promising future of humanoid robots and the challenges still faced in their development.

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INSIGHT

Robotics Demand Drivers

Robotics is becoming increasingly appealing due to rising labor costs, demographic shifts, and stagnant productivity.
These factors create demand for automated solutions in physically demanding sectors.

INSIGHT

Robotics Supply Side Drivers

AI advancements and cheaper components are driving robotics innovation.
This includes AI models for unstructured tasks and affordable sensors like LiDAR.

INSIGHT

Robotics Economics

Robotics offers fast payback periods with high utilization, given low capital expenditures (CapEx).
Key questions remain about pricing power and system reliability compared to human labor.

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Robots are becoming cheaper to make and more powerful because of AI. In the climate tech space, they’re already laying transmission lines, inspecting wind turbines, and installing solar panels.. And with labor productivity stagnating, immigration restrictions tightening, and the cost of labor rising, they’re looking even more appealing.

So where might robotics have the biggest impact on climate tech?

In this episode, Shayle talks to Andy Lubershane, a partner and head of research at Energy Impact Partners (where he’s a colleague of Shayle). Andy also recently wrote a blog post on the effects of autonomy across climate tech. They cover topics like:

How more affordable parts and better foundation models are making robotics cheaper
The high CapEx and low OpEx that make automation expensive to start, but valuable with high utilization
Robotics-as-a-service companies that help to overcome these initial CapEx challenges
The most promising applications, like manufacturing, construction, and maintenance
The hopes for more humanoid general-purpose robots — and the challenges in making them

Recommended resources

Steel for Fuel: Autonomy is real now

SemiAnalysis: America Is Missing The New Labor Economy – Robotics Part 1

Steel for Fuel: From SaaS to Robots

F-Prime Capital: State of Robotics

Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.

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