Tracking Vs Fixed Solar Panels

A solar tracker will cost more money up front than a fixed solar panel system because it is a more complex technology and has moving parts.

Tracking vs fixed solar panels. Advantages of fixed mounts over trackers include the following. In a fixed form their efficiency is low since the panels will be tilted in a particular angle whereas in a tracking system the panel is made to move either in single axis or dual axis. Compared to a fixed mount the additional cost per watt or premium to track is 1 33 per watt 2 24 0 91. That increases the installed cost for a tracked pv system from 8 63 to 9 96 per dc watt.

The black line represents an allearth dual axis solar tracker. Tracker systems are the alternative of standard installation with a different variety. A solar tracker is a device that follows the sun as it moves across the sky. Fixed tracking systems offer more field adjustability than single axis tracking systems.

Most of the pv power plant designed fixed type of installation. While the fixed system never reaches maximum power the tracker maintains full power output throughout most of the day from dawn to dusk a significant increase in production over the roof mount system. Trackers increase the production of a site by more than 15 to 25 over fixed tilt. In a world of rapidly decreasing prices for solar ppas increased power production is critical in helping project owners achieve a viable roi.

The red line represents a fixed roof mount system south facing at a 30 tilt. Fixed systems can generally accommodate up to 20 slopes in the e w direction while tracking systems typically offer less of a slope accommodation usually around 10 in the n s direction. When solar trackers are coupled with solar panels the panels can follow the path of the sun and produce more renewable energy for you to use. Lastly tracking systems are more expensive to maintain over the 25 year life of a system.

This also leads to the second area of increased cost for solar tracking systems. Residential and small capacity commercial or industrial rooftop solar panels and solar water heater panels are usually fixed often flush mounted on an appropriately facing pitched roof. So why exactly are we seeing this shift from fixed tilt to single axis trackers. On the other hand it s also possible to produce more energy with the same quantity pv panels and inverters.

An additional 20 of acreage for tracking systems is a good rule of thumb for checking the economics.