A solar tracker is a device that orients a structure towards the Sun to minimize the angle of incidence between the incoming sunlight and the structure, maximizing the amount of energy captured. For PV panels applications, solar trackers can increase the energy output by up to 25%, in comparison to a fixed structure PV plant and increase the capacity value of the plant during the winter and/or in systems with high insertion of PV generation.
Solar trackers are designed for all type of climates but suit better in mild ones, while fixed structures are preferred on harsher environmental conditions. Since trackers introduce moving parts, they are more complex than fixed structures, which tend to possess a higher degree of robustness. Even with the latest advancements in reliability, trackers generally still require more maintenance, with 10% more Operations & Maintenance (O&M) costs. This also includes additional site preparation tasks, additional trenching for wiring and additional grading. In financial terms, these systems are therefore also more complex operationally, and are thus seen as a higher risk.
In terms of structural challenges, wind damage is the main concern. Wind can become turbulent and cause unexpected load patterns, causing significant stress in the form of harmonic resonances. This phenomenon, known as galloping, can even be experienced in low wind regions, often resulting in catastrophic effects. According to recent studies, limited structural centralization measures on current utility-scale tracker systems would already result in a 7% lower LCOE, as they would reduce the number of necessary repairs.
To overcome this obstacle and take full advantage of the potential of solar trackers, ESASolar developed the unique ESAblock fixing device (initially called SecureTracker). Through an efficient implementation of this new system, we estimate that a standard utility-scale 100MW array will avoid 95% of previous repairs, thus saving €6 million over 30 years through 700 times fewer lifetime part failures and 400 times less labour hours. This reduction amounts to 80% lower tracker O&M costs and increased profitability through an estimated reduction of 30% in the Levelized Cost of Energy.
ESAblock will also allow us to increase ESAsolar’s visibility in the market and consolidate our brand as a technological leader in the PV tracker market, also increasing its work force with the creation of dozens of direct jobs until 2026.
