Tips To Choose The Right Solar Tracker

Horizontal E-W Horizontal E-W Horizontal E-W Horizontal E-W Horizontal E-W Horizon Depending on the location, solar trackers can increase the power produced by PV panels by 16–24% over fixed tilt systems. Although this technology has been around for more than 5 years, India has just recently started to apply it to huge utility facilities. The Indian market has a variety of tracker suppliers using various tracking methods.

This has made it necessary for developers to consider variables like ease of installation, maintenance, accessibility to spare parts, reliability, and the technology’s lifespan costs while choosing the best solution for solar trackers.

Tracker type:

The first choice is whether to use a single-axis (SAT) or dual-axis tracker (DAT). A DAT may spin horizontally as well, generating more energy than an SAT, which can only move vertically in the East-West direction. However, compared to upgrading from a fixed system to an SAT mechanism, which uses a ratio of only 1.2–1.25, the additional power to additional investment is around 2–2.5. Additionally, the latter requires considerably more upkeep than the former because it is more intricate and requires more space. Therefore, using SAT now makes financial sense.

Configuration of the tracker

The next step is to complete the setup. In the market, there are two primary configurations: Building Block (BB) and Independent row (IR). An IR type has one motor per row as opposed to a BB type, which essentially links a single driving motor to many rows of modules.

Installation Effort:

The simplicity of structural and electrical installation is another crucial factor. The tracker should be made in such a way that installation doesn’t take extra time or require specialized knowledge. On the electrical front, the lack of an internal power source for trackers may result in a large increase in the amount of site wiring needed. There are two different kinds of tracker systems.

Type 1 – Powered externally with input from the inverter room.

Type 2 – Self-powered, each tracker or combination of trackers has its PV module and energy storage unit.

Essentials of Structure:

These may differ greatly depending on the soil type and tracker design. Similarly to this, how the vertical post and horizontal tube are connected directly affects how well and consistently the tracker operates. There are many different types of joints on the market, some of which have been trademarked by the providers. The ideal option should be self-lubricated bearings that have been tested for a few years of operation. Installation and maintenance time and cost are directly impacted by both joint type and foundation.

In addition to the aforementioned elements, it is advisable to validate that the material used for the construction and the solar tracker design is appropriate for the local environmental circumstances, such as the soil’s contamination, humidity, local irradiance, wind pattern, and velocity. To demonstrate the design’s appropriateness under challenging site conditions, some kind of environmental testing or reliability tests should be conducted.

Conclusion

Choosing a tracker requires a comprehensive evaluation of numerous technical and business factors throughout a plant’s existence. If the tracker design is not properly chosen, the price gap between the upfront cost and the cost incurred after installation could reach as much as 11 lakhs. As a result, it would be wise to consider the total cost rather than just the offer price. To make sure users get the most out of the tracker system, developers must also consider dependability, ease of installation, and ease of upkeep.