Terrasmart trackers now with hail stow feature Terrasmart reports that the hail mitigation system uses cloud-based monitoring to automatically trigger optimum stow position to protect solar assets without requiring operator intervention.

Report shows U.S. states and utilities easing into EVs The number and scope of electric vehicle regulations and charging incentives are increasing.

Utilities plan hydrogen power projects that crowd out renewables Several utilities have proposed hydrogen-capable generating units in their resource plans, a research center reports. But hydrogen projects face hurdles such that they “may not work” and conflict with renewables, another research group says.

The impact of semi-transparent solar modules on agrivoltaics yield Researchers have conducted a field study across two growing seasons, growing different kinds of vegetables under three types of modules with 40%, 5%, and 0% transparency. Their work is the first replicated research experiment that evaluates module transparency in an irrigated vegetable field setting.

New research finds solar module anti-reflective coatings may reduce LCOE by over 2% Researchers in Morocco have examined the effects of an anti-reflective coating on solar panel performance under desert conditions and have found that it enhanced both the annual performance ratio and the energy yield by 2% and 5.5%, respectively. They have also found it to be durable and able to withstand dry cleaning methods under accelerated testing.

Canadian Solar drops 15% post Q2 earnings report The solar company logged $1.64 billion in revenue, down from $2.36 billion in the previous year’s Q2.

Terrasmart announced the release of a new hail stow feature for its single-axis tracker,TerraTrak.

The risk of damage to solar plants from hail storms has increased with the frequency of extreme weather evens. Over the past five years, hail damage has caused more than 50% of total insured project losses, said hail risk expert VDE. Though infrequent, these events can produce record losses. In 2022, hail losses exceeded $300 million in Texas alone. Forty-year financial exposure models from engineering firm VDE Americas suggest that hail events could result in up to $13 million in damage at 0° tilt, compared to only $620,000 at 60°.

Terrasmart’s new hail stow capability mitigates that risk with its PeakYield, cloud-based tracker control and monitoring software platform. Terrasmart reports that the hail mitigation system automatically triggers optimum stow position to protect solar assets without requiring operator intervention.

Available for both 1P and 2P trackers, the hail stow solution adds to Terrasmart’s racking portfolio. The portfolio offers both ground screw and driven piles, designed to perform in the most extreme terrain and weather conditions.

“Project de-risking has, and continues to be, our most significant contribution to the solar industry,” says Terrasmart president Ed McKiernan. “Our new hail stow feature adds to our existing array of foundation and racking products that bring unique reliability to unreliable sites.”

Terrasmart outlines the following advantages of its hail stow feature:

• Automatic stow feature puts trackers into safe position without requiring operator intervention, reducing potential lapses from human factors
• High-tilt stow angle accounts for both wind and hail conditions, eliminating contradicting positions and ensuring a safe tracker position (+/- 50° for 1P and +/- 60° for 2P)
• Real-time, cloud-based weather forecast triggers activate based on industry-leading data from Accuweather
• Auto-stow feature activates 60 minutes before a weather event but timing can be customized to meet owner requirements
• Stow function does not require installing additional hardware or calibration over time

“Our motto at Terrasmart is to stow early and stow often,” says Ashton Vandermark, Terrasmart’s software solutions lead. “We are adamant about automatically triggering hail protection to avoid instances where manual intervention has not occurred during storms. We are excited about this latest addition to PeakYield’s cloud-based functionality and machine-learning intelligence to protect assets.”

Terrasmart, owned by Gibraltar Industries, has more than 25 GWs of solar deployed across 6,000 PV systems.

Terrasmart’s software team will be at RE+ in Anaheim September 10 to 12 in booth #D30011 to give live demos of PeakYield as well as discuss hail stow and other TerraTrak features.

California advances flexible demand that can absorb renewable power  With flexible demand appliance standards for pool controls set to take effect in California next year, the state is now developing standards for electric storage water heaters, to be followed by standards for five more types of appliances.

PV systems can now support grid as fossil fuels decline A new report by the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaics  Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) says that existing PV systems have the technical capabilities to provide various frequency-related grid services.

Google invests in 800 MW solar project in Illinois The Double Black Diamond Solar project may be the largest solar installation east of the Mississippi when complete in 2025.

The Hydrogen Stream: U.S. companies, institutions present hydrogen plans As the hydrogen project in Appalachia moves on, American Airlines confirms its commitment to hydrogen aircrafts. Meanwhile, a Scottish distillery might soon run on hydrogen for whisky production.

Startup Enteligent secures $6 million to scale solar EV charging The company offers a DC-to-DC electric bidirectional electric vehicle charger that allows EVs to charge directly from solar panels without the need to convert to AC.

Natron Energy announces $1.4 billion sodium ion battery factory in North Carolina The company will open a 24 GW annual production facility, creating over 1,000 jobs.

Swift Current Energy reported that it has closed on a tax equity investment from Google for its 800 MWdc Double Black Diamond Solar project in southern Illinois. The amount of funding by Google was not disclosed, but previous reporting by pv magazine USA stated that over $779 million in project financing was closed for this project, making it among the largest solar project financings in U.S. history.

Located 30 miles west of Springfield, Illinois, the Project is currently under construction and is expected to reach commercial operations by early 2025. Once operational, according to Swift Current Energy, Double Black Diamond Solar is expected to be the largest solar project east of the Mississippi River.

The tax equity financing makes use of energy communities and domestic content adders, provided in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Energy communities are those that are expected to face challenges in the transition away from fossil fuels, such as certain metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) and non-metropolitan statistical areas based on unemployment rates. The domestic content adder is a 10% tax credit bonus for solar, wind, and battery energy storage developers that install projects using U.S.-made components, adding to the 30% base investment tax credit.

“As we work to responsibly grow our infrastructure, we need to partner with companies like Swift Current who understand the nuances of the energy markets where we operate and can help unlock new clean energy at a rate that matches the pace and scale of demand growth on electric grids today,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, global head of data center energy at Google.

The project uses First Solar modules, a majority of which are being manufactured in the US, as well as solar trackers from U.S.-based Nextracker. At peak construction, the project employed approximately 500 construction workers. Swift Current is the project developer and will be the long-term owner and operator, and McCarthy Building Companies is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner.

Swift Current Energy said that Double Black Diamond Solar will contribute to communities in Sangamon and Morgan counties. The Project, capable of powering 100,000 homes annually, is expected to reduce regional carbon dioxide emissions by approximately one million tons per year.

“We are proud to be home to one of the largest clean energy projects in the nation,” said Andy Van Meter, Sangamon County board chairman. “The Double Black Diamond Solar project brings significant economic benefits to our community, contributing $100 million in tax revenue and supporting hundreds of jobs. This project is a win for both our community and the environment.”

Energy producer Constellation NewEnergy reportedly will purchase a portion of the energy and renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by Double Black Diamond Solar to serve the seven customers that have been announced. The City of Chicago will source renewable energy produced by the Project to power several energy-intensive facilities, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. Additionally, Cook County Illinois, CVS Health, Loyola University of Chicago, PPG, State Farm, and TransUnion have agreements to purchase power from the Project via Constellation.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Societe Generale, Truist and ING provided construction financing for the Project. Vinson & Elkins LLP and Husch Blackwell LLP represented Swift Current in the transaction. Milbank LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP represented Google.

Sage Geosystems begins construction of 3 MW geothermal storage facility for ERCOT grid Company draws on oil and gas drilling tech to get renewable energy from dry rock formations.

The myth of meaningful and equitable energy access What it takes for low-income households to truly benefit from community solar.

Form Energy iron-air battery in Maine granted $147 million The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting Power Up New England with $389 million of federal funding. As part of the Power Up New England program, Form Energy is to deploy an 85 MW/8500 MWh multi-day battery system in Lincoln, Maine.

What to look for in tracker monitoring technology Software can boost production and mitigate risks.

Global solar module prices fall amid weak demand In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week  pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

Tracker monitoring software technology is an often overlooked but crucial element of solar development. New project discussions tend to focus on hardware components such as foundations and mechanical properties, but software capabilities are equally important. Inadequate technology can leave a site vulnerable to risks like weather damage and revenue loss.

Since tracker software is the underlying intelligence that optimizes all facets of a tracker’s performance and maximizes the likelihood of a site reaching its energy goals, it’s the “brains” behind the operation. Integrating the right monitoring software in the beginning can provide important benefits over the entire lifecycle of a project.

The ABCs of tracker technology

A tracker technology system consists of on-site hardware connected to compatible software. If tracker technology is lacking in the basics (i.e., the ABCs,)  it can lead to lower site production and make O&M responsibilities more difficult.

On-site, a coordinated and well-engineered system will include:

• A network controller: The network controller, also called the tracker control unit, is a central hub that connects to row boxes and weather stations for the purpose of collecting data on site and sending that data to the cloud. Network controllers should connect to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA).
• Row boxes: Row boxes securely communicate tracking angle status and other variables continuously to the on-site network controller. When assessing a system, ask for what type of data output is received from the row boxes to determine how much a system communicates, and how easy it will be to remotely monitor and diagnose.
• Weather stations: Weather stations equipped with an anemometer, an ambient temperature sensor, and a snow sensor can gather details about on-site weather conditions such as wind speed and snowfall in real time. The stations feed the data to the network controller which in turn sends it to the cloud. A technology partner should be able to recommend a customized number of weather stations based on a site’s size and unique topography.

From there, tracker monitoring software should integrate seamlessly with the tracker hardware, and include an intuitive, easy-to-use dashboard.

The three Ps of tracker software technology

Tracker software benefits fall into three categories – protect, predict, and produce.

1- Protect from weather damage

Tracking technology can enhance a site owner’s ability to prevent weather damage and anticipate changes in weather conditions.

• Prevention: Wind damage is one of the most prevalent challenges that trackers face, and hail is becoming an increasingly significant concern in the solar community. Weather risks are compounded in areas prone to snow and flooding. It is essential that a tracker monitoring system includes the appropriate onsite sensors to safeguard solar assets. Sensors measure ambient temperature, wind activity, and depth of snow or flooding. This information enables timely responses to minimize production loss or damage.
• Forecasting: Forecasting is another critical feature of tracker monitoring. While weather patterns can change rapidly and hail is notoriously hard to predict, features like API integration with AccuWeather help site managers anticipate and proactively respond to changes, such as safely stowing trackers before a storm hits.Storing this weather data in the cloud provides ongoing, valuable insights for future planning.

2- Predict and ease O&M

Tracker monitoring software allows O&M to stay one step ahead of any situation and respond accordingly. Imagine being able to instantly detect when a row is not tracking on its normal path versus days or weeks of production losses due to maintenance issues. Look for predictive features such as:

• Real-time alerts via email or text that notify you of issues or changes
• An in-depth and user friendly dashboard that allows you to see inside the site, view real-time data, and access historical data
• Automatic stow position adjustment when sensors recognize certain thresholds, circumventing potential damage from wind, hail, or snow
• Machine learning capabilities that identify issues such as rows not tracking properly so they can be fixed before they impact performance
• Remote access that allows troubleshooting without going on site
• Zone controls that make it easy to perform routine maintenance like mowing while the rest of the site continues tracking

3- Produce more energy

Tracker software can maximize energy production by improving power output and minimizing downtime and/or damage. A sophisticated system will allow adjustments based on time of day, topography, and angle:

• Backtracking algorithms that minimize row-to-row shading by adjusting to the time of day (.i.e., morning or evening when the sun is low in the sky) prevent shadows from reducing output.
• With perfectly flat sites and level terrain being a thing of the past, tracker software needs to be able to adapt to topography nuances that cause trackers to be higher or lower than its neighbors. Systems that recognize the impact of shading based on topography, and can respond with solutions, add significant value and production gains.

Five questions to ask 

Before making a final commitment, ask these five questions to get the clearest picture of a technology partner’s capabilities regarding its tracker monitoring software:

1. Who owns the technology for the trackers? Is it proprietary, or outsourced? Do you create both the software and hardware, or just one or the other?
2. Can the software be updated to include new features and improved functionality?
3. How accessible is the data? Is it stored in the cloud and easily available to the team?
4. Are there automatic features and integrated APIs that protect against weather damage – such as auto-stow based on sensor data? (Note that manual stow is a big red flag).
5. Does the software offer remote access for easy trouble-shooting, and an easy-to-use interface?

As sites age, the infrastructure ages as well, but software can be regularly updated, enhancing stakeholders’ abilities to protect against weather damage and optimize power production. With tracker monitoring software, owners and site managers are empowered to make decisions based on real-time data and historical details, and can rely on automatic adjustments designed to safeguard solar assets. Choosing tracker monitoring software technology wisely can yield immediate benefits, as well as benefits for years to come.

Ashton Vandemark is the founder and CEO of Sunfig, a part of Terrasmart since January of 2021, and maker of the Solar Instant Feasibility Tool (SIFT) design, performance and financial modeling platform.

Array Technologies unveils wireless tracker system that requires no trenching The SkyLink Tracker System runs on solar power and stows when storms are detected by its snow and hail response systems.

Sunrun stock rises on strong cash generation in Q2 earnings The residential solar and energy storage provider increased its battery attachment rates and net subscriber value of its customers.

Array Technologies, a specialist in utility-scale solar tracking solutions, launched SkyLink, a solar-powered wireless tracker system.

SkyLink includes an eight linked-row architecture with passive wind mitigation, PV string powered brushless DC motor, wireless communication called “Zigbee”, and a suite of Array SmarTrack features.

Zigbee wireless communication follows a defense-in-depth approach recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The company said it adds multiple layers of protection against security breaches through wireless communication.

“Array strives to continuously enhance our products to support customers by reducing costs and installation times, and meet the growing challenges of extreme weather conditions,” said Kevin G. Hostetler, chief executive officer at Array Technologies. “As destructive storms become more frequent, our new SkyLink tracker system, with its reliable wireless communication, ensures that solar production remains uninterrupted during power grid disruptions and adverse weather.”

SkyLink’s eight row architecture allows for greater flexibility within a site layout, increasing PV capacity and cost savings for fragmented sites with irregular boundaries. With eight rows per motor, the tracker brings flexibility to site design.

Array said a battery-less control system enables the tracker to operate in extremely cold climates. The company said the tracker can operate in temperatures from -40 F to 140 F ambient.

The PV String powered brushless DC motor has an IP67 rating, indicating that it meets floodplain requirements.  

The tracker supports most commercially available modules, according to Array, including framed or frameless crystalline, thin film, bifacial and back rails. Modules are attached using single fastener, high-speed mounting clamps with integrated grounding. Traditional rails are used for crystalline in landscape, custom racking for thin film and frameless crystalline and bifacial according to manufacturer specs.

The PV-powered control system enables the tracker to move whether the grid is operational or not. The tracker will automatically stow when hail or snow is detected by its automated response system. It also makes use of Array’s patented passive wind-stow technology.

The SkyLink tracker comes with a 10-year structural warranty 10 years structural; 5 years drive and controls components.

Array told pv magazine USA that final assembly for SkyLink is completed in its manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company said its supply chain for SkyLink is “robust” and includes many items that qualify as domestic content with a path for full domestic content soon. SkyLink builds on the Array’s DuraTrack and Array OmniTrack solar trackers, which have paths to 100% domestic content by first half 2025, the company said.

According to to Wood Mackenzie’s Global solar PV tracker market share’ report 2024, Array Technologies is one of the top tracker vendors, holding second place for the ninth consecutive year after Nextracker.

Click here to download the data sheet.

From pv magazine Global

Global PV tracker shipments grew by 28% in 2023 to 92 GWdc, according to Wood Mackenzie’s Global solar PV tracker market share’ report 2024.

WoodMac’s analysis found the top 10 vendors accounted for 90% of the global market share. For the ninth consecutive year, US-based manufacturers Nextracker and Array Technologies took first and second place, with the former extending its lead position with 20% annual growth.

GameChange Solar, another US manufacturer, made it to third in the rankings for the first time thanks to 55% year-on-year growth. Together, the three companies accounted for more than 50% of global tracker shipments and 90% of the US market.

The US is the world’s largest individual market for PV trackers. It experienced 10% year-on-year growth last year, to over 37 GWdc of shipments. WoodMac says the market was buoyed by Inflation Reduction Act incentives which kickstarted construction for many new large-scale projects across the country.

In contrast, China’s tracker market fell to 4.3 GWdc in 2023. WoodMac says Chinese manufacturers experienced much higher demand for fixed-tilt products, as low installation costs were a main drivers for developers in China. Despite the drop in demand, Chinese manufacturers TrinaTracker and Archtech climbed into the global top six of tracker shipments, as they expanded their regional presence in the Middle East, central Asia and Latin America.

The largest European market was Spain, representing more than 50% of the continent’s demand. Spanish manufacturers PV Hardware, Solar Steel, Soltec and Axial all feature in the global top ten of tracker shippers.

Primergy and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announced that the Gemini solar-plus-storage project outside of Las Vegas, Nevada is now operational.

The 1.8 million solar panels are expected to generate up to 690 MW and they’re co-located with 380 MW of 4-hour battery energy storage (1,400 MWh). Using a DC-coupled storage configuration enables the batteries to be charged directly by solar, thus increasing efficiency.

In April 2022 the two companies announced that they had closed on a landmark deal of $1.9 billion in debt and tax equity financing project. The debt financing consists of $1.3 billion in credit facilities and $532 million in tax equity commitments, with the tax equity commitments provided by Truist Bank and Bank of America.

In constructing the project, which is on federal land, Primergy reports that it “created and implemented an unprecedented framework for ecosystem management” by leaving vegetation in place and using a tracker system that follows the natural undulations of the ground. The company estimates that it was able to reduce the project’s land footprint by over 20%.

During construction the project reportedly created approximately 1,300 union and prevailing wage jobs and contributed approximately $463 million to Nevada’s economy.

“Gemini creates a blueprint for holistic and innovative clean energy development at mega scale, and we are proud to have brought this milestone project to life and to have delivered so many positive impacts across job creation, environmental stewardship, and local community engagement,” said David Scaysbrook, co-founder and managing partner of Quinbrook.

The project uses Maxeon Solar Technologies’ solar modules that use bifacial mono-PERC solar cells made on large format 8-inch G12 wafers. Maxeon reports that these modules offer efficiency of over 21%, enhanced shade tolerance, and power ratings of up to 625 watts. The modules are mounted on trackers from Array and Ojjo, which are specifically designed to withstand harsh desert environments and high wind speeds with a patented wind-mitigation system.

Primergy selected Kiewit Power Constructors Co. as Gemini’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner and IHI Terrasun Solutions as the integrator for the project’s 380 MW/1,520 MWh lithium-ion battery.

NV Energy signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for the energy produced by the Gemini plant. It is  expected to meet 10% of Nevada’s peak energy needs.

Primergy Solar is a developer, owner and operator specializing in utility-scale solar PV and battery storage projects across the U.S. Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is an investment manager focused on the infrastructure needed to drive the energy transition in the UK, U.S., and Australia.

Utility-scale agrivoltaic installation in Ohio is now operational Savion developed the 180 MW solar power plant located in Madison County, one of the first operating utility-scale solar sites to integrate soybeans, alfalfa and forage crop production within the array.

Solar trade group sets standards for ethical solar practices The Solar Energy Industries Association seeks public comment on two standards designed to ensure transparent, ethical solar sales practices and to raise the bar for safety and durability of rooftop solar and storage installations.

With acquisition of Lyra, Aurora adds automated permitting to its toolbox Lyra provides permit packaging software that automates permit-ready solar designs.

Trial by fire: Inside Sungrow’s thermal event testing Sungrow says the industry needs to do more to increase public confidence in lithium-ion battery storage.

Solar electricity “a good idea” for 83% of poll respondents Support for solar electricity has declined by 8% since 2013, according to a recent RMI poll.

Solar nears 9% of U.S. total electric generation capacity The monthly energy infrastructure update from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shows solar accounted for nearly 80% of capacity additions in May, continuing its dominance of new-build generation.

Mission Solar introduces modules for C&I and utility-scale The residential solar panel manufacturer introduced large format bifacial solar modules for larger projects.

Savion, a Shell Group portfolio company, announced that the Madison Fields Solar Project (MFSP) has achieved commercial operation.

The 180 MW solar power plant is located in Madison County, Ohio and is one of the first operating utility-scale solar sites to intentionally integrate soybeans, alfalfa and forage crop production within the array.

Savion developed and built the project and will share ownership equally with InfraRed Capital Partners. Shell is the asset manager of the project.

A local public hearing was conducted online in December 2020, where 13 of the 14 registered witnesses elected to provide testimony. Ten individuals testified in support of the proposed facility, while two people expressed opposition, and one individual requested that the applicant consider specific environmental management practices at the facility.

Savion entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with Amazon as the sole offtaker for electricity generated by MFSP. Over the next 35 to 40 years, the solar plant is expected to produce enough energy to power approximately 38,000 Ohio homes annually. The project will connect to the regional power grid controlled by PJM and is expected to contribute $1.62 million annually to local taxing entities throughout the life of the project, according to Savion.

“Today, we are not only celebrating the commencement of Savion’s first constructed and owned project but also how it contributes to our diverse renewable energy development work across the United States,” said Nick Lincon, president of Savion.

The installation is made up of 420,000 solar modules on single-axis trackers. The agrivoltaic aspect of MFSP was designed by Savion’s wholly owned subsidiary, Between the Rows, a company that Savion said is dedicated to “think like farmers” across all phases of utility-scale projects, including development, construction, operation, and decommissioning.

Between the Rows partnered with The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in actively testing and growing forage crops, including hay and alfalfa, along with soil health and precision agriculture. Once the crops and grasses come in, the plan is to graze livestock on the site. 

The construction area is 1,696 acres with about 1,280 acres inside the fence, 125 of which are planted with corn and soybeans. The 415 acres outside the fence will be vegetated or returned to farming, Savion reports. During construction trees were cleared from a 4.3-acre area of the site, which represented less than 1% of the total project footprint.

Savion reports that with the operation of Madison Fields it now has 1.8 GW in operation, under contract or under construction.

GCL Perovskite, a branch of GCL Tech within the GCL Poly and GCL Solar group, introduced their latest perovskite and perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules. A key highlight was the public IEC test documentation, indicating they may have conquered the perovskite degradation challenge. The company plans to incorporate this technology in the top layer of their tandem modules, aiming for efficiencies above 27% in limited deployment testing next year.

The Solar Roll by Apollo, featured in the main image above, is a flexible roll measuring 20.1 feet in length and 6.6 feet in width. This innovative setup combines six 300-watt solar panels into a 1.8 kW array capable of generating more than 10 kWh in a single day. The unit, equipped with MC4 connectors, is designed for easy integration with any standard solar inverter.

Throughout the three days of Intersolar, as detailed on the pv magazine Intersolar Live Blog pages – Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 – attendees witness an impressive array of battery products. Numerous manufacturers showcased their latest offerings, particularly focusing on home battery solutions.

EcoFlow’s latest release, the PowerOcean Plus, represents a significant increase in residential system size and capacity. This smart hybrid inverter can manage up to 40 kW solar input with a 29.9kW AC output. Notably, it can support up to 60 kWh of battery capacity, 15 kWh more than its predecessor. Kevin Benedict, EcoFlow’s product and solutions manager, explained that this upgrade was a direct response to customer demand for larger systems to optimize home solar use and EV charging.

The presence of electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure was also a focal point at the event.

The Evum-motor aCar, showcased with a solar panel cleaning robot strapped to its flatbed, is tailored for operations and maintenance tasks. Starting at €33,990, this versatile vehicle is offered in several configurations: the base model features a 16.5 kWh battery with a range of 91 km. Additional options include a 23 kWh battery, which extends the range to approximately 128 km for an additional €4,290, and a 33 kWh battery that offers up to 203 km for an additional €10,890. Available in six base packages, the aCar punches above its weight with a payload capacity of 1,100 kg and a towing capacity up to 1,500 kg.

The aCar’s design, including its 1.5 meter width, allows it to fit comfortably between the rows of panels on solar farms, enhancing its utility. Its low-speed torque is specifically advantageous for traversing loose and steep terrain, facilitating the transport of essential hardware and personnel to less accessible areas. The inclusion of the solar panel cleaning robot underscores the vehicle’s practical application in maintaining and operating remote or large-scale solar operations.

Electric bike charger econec shared three electric bike chargers: the eBike Box micro for home use, eBike Box mini C for businesses, (featured in the image below), and eBike Box Vision for public charging. A notable feature of these systems is their customizable charger. Representatives noted that the e-bike industry has around 25 charging standards, with the public charging model, the eBike Box Vision, accommodating up to five unique plugs. Although Bosch dominates the market with 50% to 60% of all charger adapters, it offers two different types of connectors. Currently focused primarily on the European market, Econec is actively seeking U.S. partners as it works to expand its certifications.

Aiko is poised to launch the ABC Infinite Gen 3 solar module range, with efficiencies ranging from 24.2% to 25.2% in the fourth quarter. The standout 650 watt module, featuring 25.2% efficiency, aims to be the highest efficiency module globally upon its release. These products will be produced in the company’s two manufacturing facilities, with capacities of 10 GW and 14 GW of modules per year. A significant efficiency enhancement in these modules is the relocation of the busbars to the backside of the solar panels. While this adjustment reduces the bifaciality value to nearly 70%, it opens more silicon to face the sun on the front site, white significantly improving shade management capabilities.

Georg Giglinger, an environmental engineer, shared via Twitter what may have been the highest wattage module at Intersolar: Tongwei’s 765.18 watt rated, 24.63% efficiency panel.

Announced directly from the floor in Munich, Germany, Nextracker has acquired specialty ground screw manufacturer Ojjo in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $119 million. Ojjo’s truss systems are designed to use half the steel of conventional foundations, aim to reduce grading requirements, and would be the foundation that supports NexTracker’s motors and torque tubes.

The pv magazine team at Intersolar Munich 2024 included over 30 representatives from regions such as Ireland, England, Western and Southern Germany, the U.S., among others.

BASF, NGK launch sodium-sulfur battery with less than 1% degradation rate A set of technological improvements incorporated into the new product NAS MODEL L24 allows for lower maintenance costs compared to the earlier sodium sulfur battery type developed by the two manufacturers.

NREL guide for anyone seeking more solar and storage in utility resource plans A guide to utility resource plans aims to help state regulators and others engage effectively with utilities in reviewing the plans, which have often been challenged for limiting solar and storage in projections of new generating capacity needed.

Nextracker expands U.S. manufacturing with Unimacts Owned by Unimacts and located near Las Vegas, this factory will produce steel components exclusively for Nextracker, bringing the tracker specialist’s annual domestic solar tracker capacity to over 30 GW.

Final guidance released on IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements According to the Treasury Department, developers of clean energy projects may be able to claim an increased credit equal to five times the base incentive.

Solar startup claims doubled energy per acre with terrain-following array California startup Planted Solar uses construction robots and high-density arrays to deliver what the company says are higher energy outputs and lower balance of system costs.

U.S. grid-scale storage grows 84%, residential storage 48% Wood Mackenzie reported large growth in Q1 year-over-year for grid-scale storage and residential storage, while commercial and industrial storage slowed.

Commercial real estate to host VPP-connected flywheels and batteries U.S.-based technology provider Torus has agreed to supply nearly 26 MWh of energy storage for Gardner Group’s commercial real estate portfolio. The project will integrate battery and flywheel energy storage systems (BESS, FESS) with Torus’ proprietary energy management platform.

Planted Solar, a solar startup out of Oakland, California, received $20 million in Series A funding from the Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Khosla Ventures, as well as Department of Energy Funds to scale its terrain-following solar installation design.

The company installs its arrays like a sheet, densely packed together, rather than using typical row spacing. Instead of developing the land to be flat and uniform, the company’s solar mounts follow the terrain, tolerating up to a 27% slope. This helps reduce land development costs and allows for more energy-per-acre.

This may prove important, as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management forecasts the country will need 22 million acres for solar project deployment.

“In comparison to south-facing fixed tilt and tracker designs, a Planted array provides a comparable kWh/kWp yield when using a higher inverter loading ratio (ILR) and is substantially lower in cost of structural balance of system and installation, reduces the amount of civil work and civil risk, and requires a lot less land,” said Planted Solar.

The company said its design allows for a megawatt of solar to be installed on only two acres, less than the five acres typically required for a megawatt of solar capacity. Its simple terrain-following mount leads to a 50% reduction in balance of system costs and fewer installation hours.

“This adds up to a system with a lower build cost, higher DC system size, and similar annual kWh production,” said the company.

The terrain-following mounts are compatible with all conventional module formats and sizes, said the company.

After completing the design phase, the company uses installation robots to deploy the solar panels, which it said reduces installation time and costs. Planted Solar said its design mitigates impacts like erosion on the developed land, which is explained in a whitepaper.

“Planted’s low-impact approach to fixed-tilt solar PV foundation and table installation is novel in its automation, low impact/low disturbance, and tolerance to using existing ground conditions without grading. Furthermore, the low-area cross section of the Planted foundation legs should reduce local scour when compared to traditional pile. Installing using Planted’s methodologies will reduce disturbance and resultant hydrological and hydraulic impact to a site versus traditional installations of solar arrays,” said Planted Solar.

Planted Solar chief executive officer Eric Brown said it is rapidly “moving from pilots to portfolios.” The company announced it was selected for an 11 MW portfolio of projects in the Chicago area with Cultivate Power.

“Planted Solar gives our team a strategic tool to be stewards of the land and develop better projects with our community partners,” said Brian Matthay, co-founder and managing director of Cultivate Power. “Cultivate is focused on collaborating with landowners and communities so we can integrate solar seamlessly with the local environment and agricultural operations.”

Nextracker announced its second steel torque tube factory with Unimacts, a specialist in industrial manufacturing and supply chain solutions.

Like the first Nextracker/Unimacts partnership, this factory will be located in Sloan, Nevada, near Las Vegas. This factory will also will be owned by Unimacts, with all steel components produced exclusively for Nextracker, bringing the tracker specialist’s annual domestic solar tracker capacity to over 30 GW.

The steel torque tubes produced in the new 160,000-square-foot facility will be used to hold and rotate solar panels in large-scale solar power plants. The two factories will produce enough torque tubes to support more than 2 GW of new solar power each year, equivalent to the energy used by 400,000 U.S. homes.

With this new factory, Nextracker has now opened or expanded over 20 U.S. manufacturing facilities since 2021, including new or expanded dedicated production lines across the U.S. The tracker specialist locates plants near its target markets with the goal of reducing time and cost for its customers The Unimacts plant will produce steel components for Nextracker’s solar power generation plants primarily in Nevada and southwestern states. 

Since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, solar developers are focusing on U.S. made content for solar power plants in order to qualify for the domestic content bonus credit. To qualify all steel and iron used in projects must be completely manufactured in the U.S., with the exception of certain metallurgical processes related to steel additives. This primarily applies to construction materials used for racking, trackers and foundation components anchoring solar panels.

“American manufacturing has quickly become the heartbeat of the clean energy revolution,” ​​said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker. “There is a trifecta of perfect conditions for this manufacturing renaissance: a terrific workforce, a great localized clean steel industry, and strong demand for renewable energy. Over the last three years, Nextracker has operationalized over 20 factories, catalyzing thousands of jobs. This is what growth and scaling look like.”

In addition to enabling solar developers to reap further tax credits, domestically produced materials is an economic driver, bringing good jobs to local communities. American Clean Power estimates that the IRA will help create 550,000 new clean energy jobs – more than doubling the current clean energy workforce. As a result, the clean power industry will support a direct workforce of nearly one million Americans by 2030.

 “Today’s announcement is a great example of clean power driving an American manufacturing renaissance in Nevada and across the United States. Creating and expanding supply chains here at home strengthens America’s energy security, creates good-paying jobs and boosts the economy. These new manufacturing facilities also exemplify the key role of American technology in creating a clean, reliable, and affordable grid,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of American Clean Power.

In addition to making torque tubes for the solar industry, Unimacts solar piles and drives for trackers as well as wind turbine components and other industrial products.

“The federal incentives allow us to confidently invest in U.S. manufacturing, provide manufacturing jobs in Nevada and growth in the local economy,” said Alan Hayes, CEO of Unimacts. “Having inaugurated our first Nevada site for solar component production in Las Vegas just nine months ago, we’re pleased to be once again partnering with the Nextracker team, expanding clean energy manufacturing capacity and contributing to local jobs.”

From pv magazine Spain

Soltec Innovations, the innovation unit of ​​solar tracker manufacturer Soltec, has developed a floating solar tracker for reservoirs, irrigation ponds, and other inland bodies of water.

The new Flotus design is based on three main components: two longitudinal floats and a central floodable tank, responsible for regulating the east-west rolling movement.

“We have redefined the traditional approach,” said Ignacio Melón, general manager of Soltec Innovations and the head of the project. “The existing solutions in this segment were based on terrestrial photovoltaic structures on floats. With Flotus, we have started from a nautical structure equipped with photovoltaic modules, optimizing energy efficiency through better orientation and solar tracking.”

Soltec said a significant advantage of this technology is its ability to allow most light to pass through. The plant’s design, with followers in rows separated by at least 2 meters, avoids module shading during backtracking and, unlike traditional floating systems, allows the use of bifacial panels.

It said that robustness and stability are other strengths of Flotus. Equipped with pumps, the central tank not only provides mobility, but also acts as ballast, allowing the tracker to maintain its operation even in wind gusts of more than 100 kmh. Flotus stands out for its east-west tracking system, characteristic of terrestrial horizontal solar trackers, and its advanced naval design.

The manufacturer said that another advantage of Flotus over fixed floating structures is its ability to increase energy production by 15% to 25%, depending on latitude, especially during the first and last hours of the day. Thanks to the cooling effect of water, Flotus also surpasses the production of terrestrial solar trackers.

Soltec claimed that “Flotus is especially interesting for hybridizing hydraulic plants, maximizing the use of its already amortized electrical energy evacuation infrastructure.”

The company is now securing the first expressions of interest from developers in Spain and the United States, with a view to carrying out the first pilot projects next year.

New frontiers: All-terrain trackers are changing the rules of solar site selection As solar projects are built increasingly in populated areas, community pushback has become a major risk to solar growth and achievement of climate targets. Yet by allowing solar installations to fit the land in its natural form, we can remove one of the most significant sources of pushback. We shouldn’t have to protect nature from solar development.

Walking the hazardous line of qualifying for the brownfield energy tax credit The brownfield credit is significant and, therefore, it behooves a project developer to understand the definitions and rules in order to avoid any potential liability while also qualifying for the credit.

Solar cell prices hold steady in quiet market In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Zinc-ion batteries: A less volatile alternative? At a time of growing demand for battery energy storage, pv magazine spoke with Eloisa de Castro, CEO of Enerpoly, a Swedish company preparing to launch the world’s first zinc-ion battery megafactory on its home turf. Having solved rechargeability issues, the company expects its safe and sustainable zinc-ion batteries, which rely solely on a European supply chain, to increase their market share in the years to come.

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week  pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

When you picture a solar farm, you might imagine a vast, flat desert landscape adorned with neat rows of solar panels.

For years, this image has epitomized the ideal solar site. However, as the demand for renewable energy grows, such “ideal” sites are becoming increasingly scarce. Traditional solar farm site selection criteria focused on flat topography as well as large, contiguous parcels, lack of land features, and mild climate. These criteria often limited the potential sites. Advancements in solar tracker technology are now reshaping the landscape of solar farm site selection and opening up new possibilities for developers.

For example, slopes beyond five degrees were historically considered “unbuildable.” This is because traditional solar trackers typically used continuous torque tubes that don’t flex. Even as torque tubes are being forced to flex, these trackers have limited ability to adapt to undulating terrain, requiring developers to grade the land before installation or use variable foundation reveal heights.

Flattening the land requires bringing in bulldozers and dump trucks, adding to the cost and complexity of the project, as well as creating a negative environmental impact. Some states require significant civil engineering and stormwater management measures to even approve grading, including large and expensive retention ponds, topsoil testing, revegetation measures, and more. Satisfying these requirements can be so expensive that developers may avoid the state entirely.

Solar sites can be disqualified for development for being located in a floodplain, wetland or protected area. The site may also have an increased risk of differential settlement due to earthquakes, soil instability, or a history of underground mining. With trackers more capable of following natural, or shifting, terrain, these issues can be managed.

Solar sites in areas at risk of hurricanes, flooding, and high winds have also historically been ruled out due to the potential damage they can cause to traditional solar trackers and other PV system equipment.

New tracking technologies eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming land grading. Unlike traditional solar trackers that require level ground, an all-terrain tracker can adapt to the land’s natural shape.

Even if a flat site is found, or created, to build a solar power plant, things can change. Over a project lifespan of 30 to 40 years, the ground under a solar project can shift and eventually break or damage long continuous torque tubes.

Think of a sidewalk — when the concrete is freshly poured, everything is perfectly flat and even. But over time, the ground shifts, raising or lowering tiles. Often the rigid sidewalk tiles crack over time from the relative motion.

The same can happen to a solar array if you install a rigid traditional tracker on land affected by differential settlement. By installing flexible bearings instead, the steel piles can shift without disrupting the plant’s performance.

Breaking the paradigm of the long, continuous torque tube required a string of innovations. In addition to the articulating hardware, we needed to reimagine the tracking technology and software controls to ensure that panels can optimally track the sun’s location given the changing slope from bay to bay.

We had to develop tools to enable engineers and contractors to design a construction plan on non-flat terrain, since all of the prior software and modeling tools were only for flat terrain.

An all-terrain solar tracker also offers environmental benefits by reducing the amount of earthwork required. For example, the 170 MW Bartonsville Energy Facility solar project was recently awarded a gold medal by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality for going beyond regulatory requirements to improve the environment and promote sustainability. By using a flexible all-terrain tracker to fit to the natural landscape, the project was able to eliminate grading, exceeding the state’s notably strict regulations.

We need to continue to scale up solar development to reach net zero goals. As solar projects are built increasingly in populated areas, community pushback against solar development has become a major risk to our sector’s growth and achievement of climate targets. Solar development need not create negative local environmental consequences for the communities it’s built near.

By allowing solar installations to fit the land in its natural form, we can remove one of the most significant sources of pushback. We shouldn’t have to protect nature from solar development. With responsible development practices, we can actually protect nature with solar development.

One of the most significant benefits of all-terrain solar trackers is their ability to preserve the topsoil on agricultural land. Traditional solar installations often require the removal of topsoil, rendering the land unsuitable for farming in the future.

With all-terrain trackers, the rich topsoil remains intact and native plants can grow around the panels, maintaining and even improving the land’s agricultural value over time. A solar array can be used as a “cover crop” to protect the land for future generations from more permanent forms of redevelopment.

With their ability to adapt to the land’s natural shape, innovative trackers are making solar energy more accessible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly than ever before. And they’re opening up a world of new possibilities for solar developers.

Yezin Taha is founder and CEO of Nevados, a solar tracker specialist. Prior to Nevados, Taha worked in engineering design and management, project development, energy consulting and bankability for solar projects from GE, Trane, and Black & Veatch. While at Black & Veatch, he discovered major unmet needs in the solar industry for a better mounting solution and he left to form Nevados Engineering to bridge that gap. 

Hail can cause significant damage to solar installations and is the root cause of half of insured project losses, according to risk expert VDE Americas. While hail cannot be avoided, damage can be prevented by tilting solar modules on a tracker, called stowing, turning the face of the modules away from the hail.

FTC Solar, a Texas-based solar tracker specialist, introduced the Automated Hail Stow Solution that uses meteorological data to automatically stow solar modules when a hail storm is on the horizon.

After collaborating with VDE Americas on studying the impact of hail events on solar installations, FTC developed a hail stow strategy that positions solar modules to minimize the impact from direct hail and wind.

The automated hail stow solution integrates with FTC’s Sunops, a cloud-based PV asset monitoring solution designed to manage and improve solar asset performance. FTC reports the software considers factors like advanced tracking algorithms and appropriate tracker stowing for extreme weather events.

Ken Kozizki, chief marketing officer of FTC Solar told pv magazine USA that the tracker quickly moves to >50 degree hail stow with modules facing away from the wind in response to the meteorological predictive data. The hail-stow algorithm is driven by meteorological data that FTC gets from an industry-leading third party provider, and weather conditions are analyzed using multiple radars that combine to form an accurate forecast for a single location.

There is also a feature that allows the plant manager to manually move to the nearest high angle stow to further reduce stow time, Kozizki said. Stow thresholds can also be customized, based on risk appetite and site location, including factors such as hail size, probability and radius.

During high wind events, utility-scale solar assets are often automatically tilted to a stowed position to prevent damage and downtime from repairs. High wind can cause solar panels to vibrate and rotate, leading to microcracking, twisting, or shattering of panels. 

However, stowing solar trackers can lead to a loss of production as they do not follow the sun in an active stow system. 

Array Technologies, a leading provider of solar tracker systems, worked with independent engineering and design firm DNV to study an alternative method to active stowing called passive stowing. The analysis focused on evaluating the energy losses associated with various tracker wind stow methods and considered multiple variables, including wind velocity stowing thresholds, wind direction, dwell time, stow exit wind velocity threshold, stow angle, and stow direction. 

In Array’s passive stow system, most of the rows track normally when stow is triggered by a wind event. Array modeled a wind event with DNV, showing that only the exterior rows of the solar array, and 17% of the interior rows were stowed out of alignment of normal tracking. Meanwhile, the active stow system moved the entire array out of tracking position, did so at a lower wind speed, and did not use wind direction as a criteria for stowing. 

The study found significant differences in energy production losses between passive and active stow systems. Passive stowing was found to lead to a 0.05% annual energy loss, while conventional active stowing led to 2.8% average annualized energy losses. The DNV study showed that conventional active stow systems can lead to as much as 4.3% annual energy losses. 

“Weather events costing $1 billion or more have escalated dramatically, with wind events now ranking as the second highest cause of insurance claims in the last three decades,” said the report. “Array’s passive wind stow technology not only mitigates these risks by maintaining higher operational efficiency during wind events but also enhances predictability in energy production forecasts.” 

Array Technologies’ DuraTrack and OmniTrack products both employ passive stow technology.

IRA should incentivize steel solar frames, says report A report from Origami Solar and Wood Mackenzie advises that if the U.S. solar industry switched from aluminum to recycled steel frames, it would no longer need to import aluminum frames from Asia.

Improve transmission planning and interconnection cost allocation, says SEIA-affiliated group Federal regulators should consider specific reforms to improve transmission planning, lower interconnection costs and provide cost certainty, says a group affiliated with the Solar Energy Industries Association.

IEA calls for sixfold expansion of global energy storage capacity The International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued its first report on the importance of battery energy storage technology in the energy transition. It has found that tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 would require 1,500 GW of battery storage.

Minnesota sues GoodLeap, Sunlight, Mosaic and Dividend over dealer fees The Attorney General claims these companies misled consumers about residential solar pricing, concealing inflated fees behind the federal tax credit and long-term contracts with low interest rates.

U.S. solar tracking solution provider Nextracker announced its NX Horizon utility-scale solar trackers are now available with up to 35% lower carbon footprint.

The tracking solution is produced with an electric arc furnace manufacturing process and uses recycled steel. The carbon footprint of the solution is also reduced through strategic siting of logistics operations near the project sites, cutting trucking and shipping miles.

“Upstream control for sourcing sustainably produced steel and components is highly complex and requires expertise and deep partnerships to navigate,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer at Arevon.

Nextracker helps its customers like Arevon navigate upstream sourcing, providing a transparent view into the supply chain. A full life cycle assessment document is provided, including data on reductions in carbon footprint, land use, water consumption, and other metrics related to sourcing, manufacturing, delivery, and operation of solar trackers.

The low-carbon tracker solution is initially offered in the United States.

“Our low carbon tracker delivers measurable results in decarbonizing solar power through circular and increasingly renewably powered steelmaking, optimized logistics, and careful selection of raw material providers,” said Dan Shugar, Nextracker founder and chief executive officer.

Nextracker said it has already secured initial orders for its new NX Horizon low carbon tracker system. Developer and Nextracker customer Sol Systems said the low carbon solutions are “setting the standards for tomorrow’s energy infrastructure.”

In addition to using electric furnaces and recycled steel, the tracker solution’s carbon-intensive materials have been reduced. Aluminum now represents less than 1% of the total weight of the product.

“Industry represents more than 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions; steel alone is 7%, making it a crucial industry to decarbonize. Based on our analysis, the steel sector invested $35 billion last year in clean capacity globally, but much more is needed to reach net-zero,” said Jon Moore, chief executive officer, BloombergNEF.

Nextracker has two upcoming panel presentations at the Cleanpower conference May 6 to 9, 2024 in Minneapolis:

• “Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing,” Dan Shugar, founder and chief executive officer, Nextracker (May 7, 2:15-3:15 p.m. CT, Charge Up Theater).
• “Solar Supply Chain,” Alejandro Riofrio, vice president, supply chain North America, Nextracker (May 8, 2:15-3:15 p.m. CT, Charge Up Theater).

In its last earnings report, the public company reported strong results, with quarterly revenue reaching $710 million, up 38% year-over-year. It raised its guidance for fiscal year 2024 to between $2.425 billion and $2.475 billion, up from previous estimate of $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion.

“As the world transitions to renewable energy and with solar leading new power generation, we are well positioned as the global leader in trackers, and we’re just getting started,” said Shugar.

The Fallon Two Rock Road Solar Farm is now operational, according to partners MCE and Renewable America.

MCE is a not-for-profit electricity provider for more than 585,000 customer accounts and 1.5 million California residents and businesses. The company reports that 60% to 100% of the electricity it sells comes from renewable power, and that it is currently delivering 14 GW. The Fallon installation is MCE’s sixteenth feed-in tariff project to come online in the Bay Area.

Renewable America is a renewable energy developer that specializes in small utility-scale solar storage and community microgrid projects in California. The company reports that it currently has over 320 MW of solar and 680 MWh of energy storage projects under development throughout California.

Fallon is a 1 MW agrivoltaics installation that is expected to produce an estimated 2.3 GW/h annually. Renewable America told pv magazine USA that the project uses 2,240 650W Astronergy bifacial solar modules on 25-degree, fixed tilt OMCO Solar Choice trackers, with 10 Chint Power 100 kW inverters (each power derated to 96kW). The site is expected to power 300 homes and save about 19,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions throughout its 35-year lifetime.

“Renewable America’s motto ‘Think Local. Act Local’, drives us to prioritize local projects like Fallon Two Rock that positively impact local communities. This is our first project with MCE, supporting local clean energy generation and committing to fast-tracking progress toward a clean energy future in California,” said Ardeshir Arian, president & CEO of Renewable America.

Renewable America designed the project to occupy only 3.5% of a 4.5-acre parcel, with the rest remaining in a natural state. The fixed tilt trackers follow the natural slope of the land, so no grading was needed, according to the developer. The project also accommodates sheep grazing between the rows, for natural vegetation management.

Fallon Two Rock was built with nearly 4,000 hours of prevailing wage labor, according to the developer. Prevailing wage is a requirement of the Inflation Reduction Act that developers must meet in order to qualify for a tax credit adder. In essence, the prevailing wage requirements states that the taxpayer (developer) must pay any laborer, mechanic, contractor or subcontractor at the prevailing rates for the location in which the construction takes place, as determined by the Secretary of Labor.

RNA Services LLC, a subsidiary of Renewable America, served as the EPC partner during construction and is continuing its role in operations and maintenance. RNA has also committed $20,000 to MCE for local workforce development.

“Clean energy is just one part of the transition to a sustainable future,” said Katie Rice, MCE board director and County of Marin supervisor. “The additional funding RNA committed will help MCE grow the clean energy economy, providing training opportunities for local residents to enter the green workforce.”

From pv magazine Global

Soltec, a vertically integrated Spanish PV company, has launched a new 125-meter-long, dual-row horizontal, single-axis solar tracker system. The SFOneX system has a tracking range of 55 degrees, and there is an option to upgrade it to 60 degrees.

“With its self-powered system, equipped with a dedicated panel and a long-lasting battery, the SFOneX guarantees up to four days of autonomous operation without sunlight,” the company said. “Its design with double rows connected by a flexible transmission axis not only reduces the number of tracking motors and controllers by half but also provides a cost-effective solution for solar projects.”

The company said it can be used with 72-cell, 78-cell, or 60-cell modules – both crystalline and thin-film panels. It can adapt to both north-south and east-west orientations of up to 15%. It can use a driven pile, ground screws, or concrete and can handle temperatures of up to 55 C.

“Like all Soltec solar trackers, it features the adapted TeamTrack system that allows maximizing energy capture by avoiding shading between rows,” the company said. “In the case of bifacial tracking, this algorithm also balances production between diffuse and direct radiation to achieve maximum performance. Additionally, the Diffuse Booster algorithm, equipped with advanced sensor systems and weather forecasting, allows for maximizing production even on cloudy days.”

In addition, the tracking system can defend itself from strong wind by adapting to the optimal position. It also has a hail-protection algorithm that uses early detection to protect the PV modules from damage.

“The launch of the SFOneX solar tracker marks a milestone in efficiency and innovation in the solar industry, highlighting its suitability for the US market due to its terrain adaptability, length, self-powered system, as well as its economic efficiency in installation,” said CEO Raúl Morales.

Lightstar Renewables, a Boston-based community solar developer, announced the successful permitting of a 4.95 MW agrivoltaic community solar project in Illinois.

The Nesler Road project will be installed on 36 acres and is expected to generate enough clean, renewable solar energy to power 1,100 Illinois homes each year, while cultivating hay; providing necessary nutrients to grazing livestock during winter months and drought periods, according to Lightstar Renewables.

The project’s special use permit application was submitted to Kane County in October 2023 and was unanimously approved by the County Board on March 12^th, 2024, after receiving approval by the county zoning board of appeals and county development committee.

“This project, now fully permitted, exemplifies the immense value in safeguarding family land from sprawling development. Keeping the land active in agriculture production, while ensuring energy freedom and resilience for the community, is a benchmark in American land stewardship,” expressed Cecelia Stephens, development manager at Lightstar, who spearheaded the permitting process. “Projects like this one highlight how rural communities can be catalysts for economic development while maintaining their agricultural heritage.”

Neighbors appeal

Lightstar Renewables told <b>pv magazine USA</b> that neighbors raised concerns about the impact the solar array may have on property values. A neighboring horse farm also was concerned about its viewshed and about sound, as they did not want their horses to be spooked by any potential noise from the solar site. Lightstar came back to the zoning board with a revised site plan that further distanced the solar array from the horse farm. In addition, they provided a property value study, a sound study, and a comprehensive landscaping plan that included vegetative screening and fencing along the parts of the array that border the horse farm. A property assessment expert, sound engineer and landscape architect were all present at the second zoning board meeting, and neighbors’ concerns were successfully alleviated.

The next step is for the project to be awarded capacity in the Illinois Adjustable Block The Illinois Shines program was expanded in 2021 and supports the development of on-site solar (distributed generation) as well as community solar projects. Program (also called Illinois Shines). After capacity is awarded, construction could begin as early as Q4 2024.

Because this will be an agrivoltaics installation with vegetation planted between the rows of solar modules, the developer will use a single axis tracker system that’s elevated 4 to 10 feet, depending on the tilt/tracking position. The array is designed to accommodate equipment that will be used to cultivate and harvest hay, which will be grown under the panels. Lightstar Renewables said that specific spacing and height considerations were made while engineering this project to ensure safe operation of farming equipment within the array.

The project is owned by Nesler Road Solar LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lightstar Renewables, LLC. Lightstar intends to own and operate this project for the lifetime of the project.

Lightstar Renewables is active in 15 states and currently has a 1 GW pipeline. In September the company announced it had been acquired by an affiliate of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation.

Longroad Energy installing U.S.-made First Solar modules in Arizona solar-plus-storage plant The 220 MWdc solar and 214 MWac / 855 MWh Serrano solar-plus-storage project will also feature Powin’s BESS, Sungrow inverters, and Nextracker trackers.

Car batteries can optimize the power grid Australian researchers have found that if 10% of vehicles are electric and utilize V2G connections, they could reduce peak electricity demand at local substations by 6% and save car owners hundreds of dollars per year on charging costs.

Group challenges anti-renewables messaging of 50-state policy network The pro-renewables Energy and Policy Institute has challenged the state-level energy policy work of the State Policy Network, which reports annual revenues of $24 million and combined annual revenues across its 150 think tank members of $188 million.

Decarbonized aviation attracts venture capital Since 2016, some $2.4 billion worth of venture capital flowed to companies developing electric aviation and other air travel decarbonization technologies with a strong start in investment volume in 2024, according to Dealroom.co, a Dutch data and intelligence firm.

Gray skies over Californian solar There may be a global solar boom but a drastic revision of California’s net metering program has ruptured the industry overnight and is affecting everyone from installers to financiers to makers of power electronics, as Tristan Rayner reports.

U.S. steel solar module frames have one tenth embodied carbon of Chinese aluminum alternatives An independent study commissioned by Origami Solar and conducted by Boundless Impact Research & Analytics found that U.S.-made recycled steel module frames show a 90.4% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional virgin material aluminum module frames shipped from China.

Longroad announced the financial close of the 220 MWdc solar and 214 MWac / 855 MWh Serrano solar-plus-storage project in Pinal and Pima Counties, Arizona. Construction is now underway, and is expected to be complete by mid-2025.

Serrano represents the continuation of a longstanding partnership between U.S.-based solar manufacturer First Solar and Longroad. Serrano is the fourth Arizona project using First Solar’s modules that Longroad has financed in four years, and Longroad’s first to use First Solar’s Series 7 panels that are made in the U.S. First Solar has a manufacturing facility in Ohio and recently expanded operations to Alabama and Louisiana.

“We are proud to support American manufacturing and the domestic solar supply chain as we expand our solar footprint in the robust Arizona market, which now surpasses 1.5 GW of operating or under construction projects,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of Longroad Energy.”

The 214 MWac / 855 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) will be provided by U.S.-based energy storage platform provider Powin. The BESS will include SMA inverters and cells from AESC, which will be integrated into Powin’s Modular and Scalable Centipede Energy Storage Platform.

Nextracker is supplying trackers for the project and Sungrow is supplying the solar inverters.

Operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the project will be provided by NovaSource Power Services and Longroad’s affiliate Longroad Energy Services. Longterm O&M services for the BESS will be provided by Longroad, in conjunction with Powin and NovaSource Power Services.

Arizona Public Service (APS) will be the offtaker of electricity from the plant through a long-term power purchase agreement. The project will generate enough electricity to power roughly 61,000 Arizona homes.

“APS is widely regarded for providing top-quality, reliable service to our customers, and solar plus storage resources like the Serrano project bring value to Arizonans,” said Brian Cole, APS Vice President of Resource Management. “Our investment in cost-effective, renewable projects enhances our diverse energy mix, providing customers with power that is reliable, affordable and clean.”

Serrano is the fourth large-scale solar facility in Arizona being built by McCarthy for Longroad and is expected to employ over 300 people during the construction process. McCarthy is using registered apprentices and reports it will be paying prevailing wage to all workers on the project, in accordance with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Longroad estimates that the solar produced by Serrano represents over 330,000 metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions annually, or the equivalent of taking approximately 75,000 gas-powered cars off the road. Additionally the project is expected to contribute more than $25 million in revenue for Arizona schools and communities through its long-term Right of Way grant with the Arizona State Land Department and tax remittances.

Debt financing was led by CIBC and Societe Generale and included ANZ, PNC, Commerzbank AG, and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance. CIBC acted as Coordinating Lead Arranger, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and Green Loan Coordinator. Societe Generale acted as Coordinating Lead Arranger. U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance served as Joint Lead Arranger and Depositary Bank. Athene Annuity and Life Insurance Company, an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, is the project’s tax equity investor and was advised by Apterra Infrastructure Capital.

“Our continued role in supporting Longroad in the build out of their development pipeline is one example of CIBC’s commitment to the U.S. renewable energy and energy transition space as we work towards enabling a more sustainable and inclusive economy,” said Peter O’Neill, head of U.S. project finance and infrastructure at CIBC.

Longroad Energy Holdings has developed or acquired 5.4 GW of renewable energy projects across the U.S. and raised over $14.5 billion of equity, debt, and tax equity to support completion of its portfolio. Serrano expands Longroad’s solar footprint in Arizona to more than 1.5 GW of operating or under construction projects.

Large area organic PV module achieves world record efficiency of 14.5%  The module has a size of 143 mm x 143 mm and an active area of 204.11 cm². The result was certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE).

Weather records tumble across U.S. as Atlantic pressure keeps eastern skies clear  In a new weekly update for <b>pv magazine</b>, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that persistent high pressure in the upper atmosphere led to irradiance as high as 30% above normal, and new records for solar generation and temperature in North America in mid-February.

GameChange validates 40-year maintenance-free design of Genius Tracker drive system At an outdoor site in Massachusetts, GameChange Solar trackers worked overtime in a test to determine how the drive system can be expected to function for 40 years.

Polysilicon prices further decouple, adverse factors thwart contract negotiations In a new weekly update for <b>pv magazine</b>, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, offers bite-sized analysis on solar PV module supply and price trends.

Solar simulator for perovskite-silicon tandem PV cells, modules A new measurement and solar simulator instrument designed for perovskite-silicon tandem cells and encapsulated mini-modules is the latest product from a collaboration between Canadian solar simulator supplier G2V Optics and U.S.-based measurement instrumentation company Sinton Instruments.

Charged by the IRA, U.S. expected to outpace Europe in lithium-ion battery cells Global manufacturing of lithium-ion battery cells are expected to triple between 2022 and 2025, according to a report from Clean Energy Associates.

U.S. solar industry week in review pv magazine USA spotlights news stories of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

GameChange Solar, a solar tracker specialist, recently announced that its accelerated testing of the Genius Tracker drive system to demonstrate it would hold up for its 40-year design life with no maintenance needed.

The testing of the drive system was performed according to the Accelerated Mechanical Cycling section of the IEC 62817 standard, GameChange reported. This standard ensures that testing for things like water ingress, cracks, loose screws, etc., is consistent and follows standard industry procedures, which result in a pass/fail criterion.

The company performed its testing at an outdoor site in Brimfield, Mass., where it put the drive systems through accelerated testing, simulating 40 years of continuous movement.

GameChange said the testing demonstrates that the Genius Tracker drive system will hold up to 40-years of trusted performance, resulting in reduced maintenance costs and a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The Genius Tracker drive system is self-contained and is designed to need no greasing over its lifetime.

“Traditional drives that require regular greasing increase maintenance expenses,” said Derick Botha, chief commercial officer at GameChange Solar. “Testing of our Genius Tracker drive system indicates that its design significantly reduces, and possibly eliminates, the need for any greasing throughout its design life. This feature improves the cost savings that our Genius Tracker product provides to customers.”

GameChange recently announced its expansion to 35 GW of annual U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity for key components. This is an increase of 11 GW from its output in 2023.

To date the company reports it has delivered over 26 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems. For example, Catalyze, a national independent power producer, completed two solar projects in Lancaster, New York that use GameChange trackers. The installations, one of which is a community solar project, sit on a 197-acre decommissioned landfill in Erie County, New York.

A solar plant constructed as a partnership between global automotive supplier Vitesco Technologies, San Antonio-based Big Sun Solar and electric cooperative GVEC, is said to be one of the first three-party power purchase agreements in Texas.

The ground-mount, tracker-based project is built on 12 acres adjacent to the Vitesco Technologies’ manufacturing facility, where the company makes drive systems and electrification solutions for sustainable mobility.

Through the power purchase agreement, Big Sun Solar is the developer, owner and operator and Vitesco Technologies purchases the electricity from GVEC.

The 2.6 MW project is expected to generate roughly 4,800 MW/h per year with 4,800 Jinko Eagle 545 W solar modules mounted on Array Technologies DuraTrack HZ v3 trackers. The site will use 16 SMA Sunny Highpower Peak3 125kW inverters.

Now operational, the solar plant is expected to produce enough electricity to cover about 13% of the company’s annual energy consumption at the Seguin facility, or the equivalent of powering 330 Texas homes.

“Powering clean mobility is our mission, and that certainly includes taking responsible actions supporting our manufacturing processes to reduce the environmental effects of the automotive industry,” said Dr. Hans-Juergen Braun, global head of operations for Vitesco Technologies.

“This solar energy project owes its success to the dedication and vision of our team in Seguin as well as our partners with Big Sun and the GVEC,” said Hans-Juergen Braun. “These initiatives and opportunities are driving our global footprint toward success and growth not only benefitting our company, but also our employees, shareholders, business partners and world as a whole.”

Vitesco Technologies and Big Sun Solar report that they are currently discussing opportunities to implement additional sustainable energy projects at the facility.

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company with operations in three New England states, began site work on a 4.9 MW solar project in Kingston, N.H. When complete in 2025, it will be the largest utility-owned solar in New Hampshire. The first utility-owned solar plant is a 2.59 MW in Moultonborough, owned by New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.

The Kingston solar project will include 11,232 Qcells solar modules mounted on Terrasmart single-axis trackers with an east-west rotation. The installation will include approximately 40 Chint Power Systems’ string inverters, and the electricity generated by the solar plant will be delivered directly into Unitil’s electric distribution system.

The plant is expected to generate approximately 9.7 million kilowatt hours of energy in its first year of service and is expected to average 8.6 million kilowatt hours annually over its projected 40-year lifespan.

Unitil chose New Hampshire-based ReVision Energy based in Brentwood, N.H. as its engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the solar array.

“The new array reflects Unitil’s long-term goals of addressing the region’s climate objectives in a way that’s cost-effective, sustainable, and provides direct benefits to all customers,” said Alex  O’Meara, external affairs director at Unitil. “We look forward to partnering on this project with ReVision Energy, which brings with it 20 years of award-winning experience in the solar industry here in New England.”

The Kingston project was approved by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in May 2023 and has since received all required local, state and federal permits. Under New Hampshire law, utilities can invest in renewable generation of up to 6% of their total distribution peak load, which provides Unitil the opportunity to develop as much as 18 MW of renewables.

“With this array, Unitil will provide substantial savings for ratepayers, generate employment opportunities within the community, and significantly curb carbon emissions,” said Dan Weeks, vice president of business development at ReVision Energy. “

While energy storage initially will not be part of the Kingston site, it has been designed for solar. A spokesperson told pv magazine USA that Unitil continues to evaluate the cost and benefits of storage to ensure the addition of storage provides net benefits to customers.

This article was amended on Feb. 27, 2024 to state that the Kingston plant is the largest utility owned, but not the first.

GameChange Solar, a Connecticut-based supplier of solar tracking solutions for ground-mounted PV plants, announced its expansion to 35 GW of annual U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity for key components. This is an increase of 11 GW from its output in 2023.

GameChange Solar confirmed that U.S.-produced content of its solar trackers will be 70% as a standard for its customers, with over 85% available upon request.

Since 2012, the company has had a network of over 30 manufacturing locations across 16 states including Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, where it produces torque tubes, posts, controllers, module mounting equipment such as purlins and SpeedClamps, bearings, stamped parts, and other tracker components.

Last year GameChange launched the 1P-2Row Genius Tracker, which it said cuts costs and speeds installation by having one controller manage two rows. The 1P-2Row Genius Tracker comes standard with preassembled components including the elimination of all washers.

In 2022 the company announced the MaxDensity system, which is a fixed-tilt racking system for ground-mounted projects. It has a 5-degree or 10-degree east-west landscape configuration. The system is designed to maximize the number of modules packed onto a site, with a ground coverage ratio of up to 98%. The company reports that it can be installed in blocks of up to 7 MW, in configurations of up to 12,000 modules.

To date the company reports it has delivered over 26 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems. For example, Catalyze, a national independent power producer, completed two solar projects in Lancaster, New York that use GameChange trackers. The installations, one of which is a community solar project, sit on a 197-acre decommissioned landfill in Erie County, New York.

On the floor at RE+ NE 2024: Concrete racking, no caulk needed, basketball, and more RE+ Northeast 2024 showcased a plethora of solar innovations and industry advancements, from concrete ballast racking systems to cutting-edge battery technology, as 3,500 industry professionals gathered in Boston despite the cold weather.

California regulators approve $1.9 billion investment plan for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure The plan is set to create the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country.

Standard Solar acquires 84 MW community solar portfolio in Illinois Construction of the 14 projects in the portfolio is expected to begin this year.

Blue Ridge Power plans 164 MW solar tracker-based plant in Virginia Soltec to supply SF7 trackers that were introduced to the U.S. market last month, and are not only designed to adapt to terrain, but can be locally manufactured, the company reports.

Verde Technologies advances solar perovskite thin film roll-to-roll coating  A spinoff of the University of Vermont, specializing in single junction and all thin-film tandem perovskite solar technologies, demonstrated that its coating processes are transferable to existing commercial roll-to-roll manufacturing lines.

Utility-scale solar had a record year in 2023. It’s set to double in 2024 The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects nearly 63 GW of utility-scale electric capacity additions, most of which are solar and batteries.

Merida Aerospace developing perovskite PV cells for space Merida Aerospace, a U.S. aerospace company, is developing perovskite solar cells for low-Earth-orbit satellites. It says perovskite solar cells could be a more cost-effective and efficient option than traditional cells.

Solar wafer prices momentarily stable, masking turbulence of industry consolidation In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.

Corporate PPAs hit record high in 2023, says BloombergNEF BloombergNEF says in a new report that corporations publicly announced 46 GW of solar and wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) in 2023, up 12% year on year. It says the increase was driven by a surge of activity in Europe.

Blue Ridge Power, a North Carolina-based developer with 7 GW of solar complete and 1.5 GW under construction, is planning a 164 MW project in Virginia. The project is expected to generate the amount of electricity needed to power more than 17,000 homes while avoiding nearly 294,000 tons of CO2.

Soltec, a Spanish tracker specialist, will supply 164 MW of its SF7 tracker for the project. The SF7 was introduced to the U.S. market last month, and it is not only designed to adapt to terrain, but it can be locally manufactured, the company reports.

By reducing pile counts, the tracker is designed to be easy to install in the field. The tracker’s mounting tolerances range from 20 to 40 inches, and Soltec reports that the solar tracker can be installed on slopes of up to 17% and can be customized.

The SF7 tracker features wireless communication designed to withstand low temperatures. It uses Soltec’s TeamTrack system to ensure maximum production, delivering up to 6.8% more yield, Soltec reports. This works by minimizing shading losses between rows, especially on uneven terrain. Bifacial tracking also boosts efficiency, the company says, optimizing its position to make use of both sides of the module.

“It is a pleasure for us to continue contributing to the decarbonization of the American economy alongside Blue Ridge Power, who is a repeat customer for Soltec,” said Raúl Morales, CEO of Soltec.

Soltec sees the U.S. as a growing market. Europe currently accounts for about 27% of its turnover, with the U.S. accounting for 25% and Latin America 47%.

NREL paper details nationwide heat-pump feasibility The report looks at how installation costs and energy savings prices change in relation to climate, heating source and type of home and suggests that policymakers further reduce the costs of installing heat pumps so that more U.S. households can benefit from them.

Puerto Rico distributed solar climbs to 680 MW, residential storage to 1.6 GWh While distributed solar and storage are advancing quickly in Puerto Rico, utility-scale solar and storage procurements ordered by Puerto Rico regulators in 2020 have made little progress.

RE+ Northeast 2024 shines in Boston  The largest and longest running of the RE+ regional conferences, this year it’s bigger than ever, having outgrown its previous space and now filling a hall in the Boston Convention Center.

Large-format solar modules and legacy assumptions  While most large-format modules are lab tested for certification, the lab is not the real world. The field loading applied to a solar module depends on the structure on which it is mounted and the terrain of the project.

People on the move: Innerdex, BlueWave, Dynamic Grid and more  Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

At the RE+ 2023 conference in Las Vegas, vendors from across the globe displayed their largest, thinnest, bi-facial solar modules, showcasing achievements in photovoltaic cost efficiency. Boasting wattages once unthinkable, the cost reduction juggernaut of solar has marched forward.

For those of us who have designed a solar module and performed mechanical load testing, there is one head-scratching detail that sticks-out and begs for further exploration. These massive modules come equipped with some of the smallest module frames ever seen.

The previously ubiquitous 2- by 1-meter module with a frame height of 50mm is now approximately 55% larger in surface area with frame heights as low as 30mm. How is this possible when mechanical load ratings have remained constant, and the height of a beam is of paramount importance to its strength? Those physics hold true for bridges, buildings, and even the frame of a solar module. Wind and snow loading rise proportionally with the increased surface area, but the latest, longest-ever module frames see a height reduction of ~40%, severely reducing its load-carrying capacity.

Modules are tested to various standard mechanical load tests for certification. These tests apply loads to the front-side and back-side of the module to rate them for withstanding real-world environmental conditions. The current industry standards (UL 61730-2, IEC 61730, IEC 61215-2) all generally agree on mechanical load testing procedures. Many of the modules on the conference floor advertise compliance with these standards and the industry-leading testing labs perform these certification tests with the utmost care and diligence.

While the large-format modules meet these standards in the lab, the lab is not the real-world. The field loading applied to a solar module depends on the structure on which it is mounted and the terrain of the project. The greater the wind zone, the greater the load on the module.

Less obvious is that larger tilt angles typically also increase wind loading on modules and that this varies across locations throughout the array. Picture a ship with its sails raised versus lowered during a storm. Which one has more force to project their vessel forward?

Snow can often have the opposite effect. Panels of a higher tilt angle will often shed more snow than lower tilt panels and thus be more favorable to module loading from snow. Any house roof in a northern latitude will showcase this phenomenon. The project designers must carefully check that the modules selected work with the mounting structure at every location on the project site.

Therefore, to understand the engineering gap at hand, a marriage of large-format module frame design and structural design of racking systems is key. Because module loading is dependent on the supporting structure (e.g., tilt angle, among several variables), structural vendors typically specify expected module loading in project design. Many structural vendors are good at validating that the module itself falls within the certification rating. However, is it possible that some vendors are still missing peak module loads for wind?

Image: Azimuth Advisory Services

A SETO-funded research project being carried out through a joint venture of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and UC Berkeley has determined that vendors need to look at smaller effective wind areas than the spans between foundations (not what is shown in Figure 1 A) when estimating individual module loading. PV modules can be broken if attributable areas as small as one-quarter of the module are overloaded (individual fastener level loading – D in Figure 1) and this can be shown to occur at maximum project design conditions for many projects getting installed today. While the evaluation typically carried out is around a maximum design loading, the SETO-funded research team is currently exploring how a lower, uneven cyclical loading can lead to structural failures as well.

If understated peak module wind loading has been common practice in project design for the last 15 years, then module failures should be rampant, no? In practice, older module frames have been pulling double-duty masking this oversight. Some of those module frames were designed with safety factors of 3. Today, large-format modules appear to be designed to safety factors of 1.5 based on reviews of some module manufacturers datasheets and industry standards. This allows the modules to be competitive in the downward march on cost.

When a certification laboratory tests a module to an actual 2,400 Pa of back-side loading, the maximum design pressure it is certified for is 1,600 Pa. It is critical to check if the module rating advertised is what was tested (including safety factors) or if it is what the maximum allowable design pressure is (without safety factors). 1,600 Pa of pressure on a module is approximately equal to a 72-mph wind gust for a module pressure coefficient of 3. The LBNL / UC Berkeley research team has determined that this coefficient is achievable at row ends for module tilts over 15 degrees. This is hardly a sufficient design for any project in the U.S. based on the latest ASCE 7-22 wind maps. If a designer mistakenly used 2,400Pa to be the design pressure, this would increase the allowable wind gust to 88-mph. Thus, it is important to understand what the module rating includes.

Load capacity

The market has driven module load capacity to its breaking point. This seems to be particularly the case regarding backside (wind uplift) loading. Combining legacy engineering assumptions, larger module areas, smaller module frame heights and unclear manufacturer ratings yields a recipe for failures. The goal is not to lay blame, but to understand the technical issues at hand and offer guidance on what stakeholders can do.

Here are tangible ways that developers, financiers, insurance companies, owners, asset managers, structure manufacturers and module manufacturers can manage these risks:

1. Make sure sufficient independent engineer (IE) budget and time is allocated per project (particularly smaller projects) so key details about module loading can be checked not only per project, but at every location on the project (e.g., exterior rows, corners, fasteners).

2. Structure manufacturer due diligence should confirm that:

• Clip and bolt loads for module retention use “module clip loads” (D in Figure 1) instead of average row areas (A in Figure 1) or even module-level areas (B in Figure 1). See the wind tunnel testing coefficients for more details.
• Module loading should not be assumed to be the same across the array for wind. The wind loads on modules at the end of the rows are typically higher than those on the interior. This is true for both tracking and fixed tilt systems. [See the latest SEAOC PV2 Wind Design for Loading Arrays]
• Clip/bolt loading should not be assumed to be the same at each location on the module. Loading on one half of the module is often quite different than the other. The fasteners may end up being the same design, but they should be designed to withstand the highest loading and not a lower average load distributed across the four fasteners.
• Module rails should be sized accordingly as well, with particular emphasis on exterior module rails and their appropriate rail-level area loading (C in Figure 1) and with assumptions for uneven module loading.

3. Module due diligence should confirm:

• Whether the module datasheet front-side / back-side mechanical load rating includes the test safety factor (typically 1.5). If it does not, reduce the load rating by the appropriate safety factor and confirm that the structural loading demand does not exceed that new, lower rating based upon the module wind/snow stow angle (tracker) or installation tilt angle (fixed tilt).
• That the module frame is designed to withstand the extra forces that come with uneven loading for the wind/snow stow angle (tracker) or installation tilt angle (fixed tilt) of the system.
• The mounting method exactly matches the module certification mounting method and is listed in the module installation manual. If not, the module manufacturer should be requested to issue a letter that the unapproved mounting method will uphold the warranty under the project conditions. Testing may be necessary.

Solar tracker design has become more challenging than ever as some utility-scale solar projects require larger module arrays, while others contend with complex terrain, unique environmental conditions, and ongoing pressure to control costs.

The actuation system in utility-scale solar trackers, the part that drives the tracker motion, will have an outsized impact on project performance. But many solar professionals may struggle to spot the differences between one actuation system and another. How can you know if the actuation system in your next project will be optimized according to need?

An actuator or drive should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all component. It’s not a good idea to source actuation systems by comparing some data points on a product spec sheet and assuming that all similarly sized drives are alike. First, be sure to understand the solar project’s structural requirements and the torque demands that will be placed on the actuation system throughout its operating lifetime.

Basics of torque

Torque is a measurement of the force that causes something to rotate around a point. It is most often expressed in kilonewton (kN) for solar applications since one kilonewton represents approximately 224.8 pounds of force (lbf). This measurement is used to size the torque required to rotate something, like a 15,000-lb. array of solar modules attached to a steel tube for example. Torque is also measured by the force needed to hold that same array in a stationary position ensuring the array can survive forces such as wind or imbalances of the array when tilted.

It’s essential for large-scale solar projects to optimize actuation systems according to structural loads and other design parameters. Oversizing the actuation system means taking on unnecessary added costs for the project. Under sizing the system means taking on unnecessary risk, putting plant reliability and longevity in jeopardy.

Why torque matters

During normal operations, single-axis tracker systems can be expected to make small changes in module tilt angle throughout the day to optimize energy output. In the early morning and the late afternoon, the module array may point as much as 60+ degrees from horizontal. The system might also perform backtracking, reversing the tilt angle to reduce energy losses due to shading. Or it might make other adjustments to optimize yield using bifacial modules or to account for variable terrain. All these conditions can apply forces that measure in the hundreds of kN or tens of thousands of pounds of force.

Torque plays a critical role in enabling systems to carry out routine maintenance and respond to extreme weather. Technicians might need to reposition the array to inspect equipment, perform module cleaning, carry out vegetation management, or complete other tasks that increase yield and maintain system uptime. The threat of hail may require the array to be tilted more than 70 degrees to mitigate damage, at the same time ensuring there is enough torque to withstand the increased impact of wind due to the increased tilt angle.

For a system that rotates twice a day reliably for 25+ years, the potential for failure is always present. What do you do if actuator system performance might become less reliable long before the project reaches its expected lifetime?

To safeguard projects from system failure, from having to choose between replacing drives or reverting to a fixed-tilt configuration, product engineers can design in a margin of safety. The safety margin should come from a robust set of field data and thorough, solar-specific testing.

What’s in your actuator?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when considering what actuator to use would be to evaluate a drive based on a single number and relying on generic engineering and testing not specific to the operating conditions for solar infrastructure. Testing procedures for different applications can vary considerably, even if they generate similar numbers on the product datasheet. You ought to know inputs and outputs. How were the test results derived? How applicable are they to large-scale solar applications?

Product engineers who test actuation systems for solar tracking applications design test plans based on real-world scenarios. Following the concept of Pareto efficiency, engineers look for opportunities to increase loads for one set of scenarios without decreasing loads for other scenarios. This process continues until it reaches an optimal state where no further improvement can be made without an equivalent tradeoff.

Engineers perform static and dynamic testing to measure all the ways that actuation systems perform under various loads. They perform accelerated life testing to detect failure points in the lab faster than would be possible out in the field. They also monitor system performance throughout testing so we can analyze results and improve understanding of how systems will respond to conditions at the project site.

To make sure the system you are designing as tracker manufacturer or specifying as an EPC or developer is optimized according to need, work with suppliers who provide project-level consultation. Make sure your supplier understands solar applications and builds drives specifically for solar infrastructure. Without test results or the underlying data to support the figures you see on a product spec sheet, ask yourself: What else don’t I know about this drive?

Kyle Zech is senior vice president, advanced manufacturing technology at Kinematics, where he leads the development and implementation of manufacturing technologies, systems, and processes. Under his guidance, Kinematics has increased annual production volumes tenfold while simultaneously improving product quality by 4 levels (AGMA). Kyle is named on multiple Kinematics manufacturing technology patents. 

Longroad Energy announced it is on track to complete the construction of its Sun Streams 4 solar and storage facility in Maricopa County, Ariz.

First Solar will provide Longroad with 800,000 Series 6 Plus solar modules. The cadmium telluride bifacial panels have a 455- to 480-watt capacity and offer up to 19% efficiency. Nextracker will supply its NX Horizon trackers, which have been configured to withstand Arizona’s extreme heat and overall climate. Sungrow’s utility-scale inverters feature an integrated current and voltage monitoring function that allow remote analysis and troubleshooting.  

Powin, a U.S.-based energy storage system manufacturer, will provide a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a duration of 1200 MWh. It will include SMA inverters and cells from the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, a Japanese lithium-ion electric vehicle battery developer. 

Powin says its modular and scalable Centipede Energy Storage platform arrives at the field built, pre-integrated and performance-tested in an outdoor enclosure, reducing installation time by 50%. The BESS has built-in emergency features that detect hydrogen levels and activate ventilation when necessary. 

U.S.-based national construction business McCarthy Building Companies Inc. is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for this project, which is the third Sun Streams 4 complex in the area. Other Longroad plants include Sun Streams 2, a 200 MWdc solar plant that began operations in mid-2021, and Sun Streams 3. The facility consists of a 285 MWdc solar array and BESS with a 215 MWac capacity and 860 MWh duration. The project, which is still in development, is expected to start commercial operations next year. 

McCarthy said it plans to hire over 250 people during Sun Stream 4’s peak construction phase, expected to run through July of next year. McCarthy is paying prevailing wages and leveraging over 65 registered operators and carpenter apprentices per Inflation Reduction Act tax incentive requirements. McCarthy states it is paying apprentices 70% to 95% of the project’s workers in the same occupation and receiving the Investment Tax Credit as a result. 

“Longroad is proud of the solar workforce we are helping to build and support in Arizona through our partnership with McCarthy,” said Paul Gaynor, CEO of Longroad. “Sun Streams 4 is one of our first projects to incorporate provisions from the IRA.”

The solar and storage facility is expected to generate over $100 million in revenue for Arizona schools and communities through long-term leases with the Arizona State Land Department and tax remittances. 

Longroad will collaborate with Powin and NovaSource Power Services, a solar O&M service provider, to manage Sun Streams 4’s long-term operations. 

Nextracker makes its mark in distributed energy generation Nextracker inked agreements with channel partners trained to resell the company’s flagship NX Horizon solar tracker to help scale DG sales to the commercial and industrial segment.

Battery storage plus hydrogen can enable a reliable, cheap clean energy transition  A Stanford University report found that transitioning to clean energy could enable many countries to reduce annual energy cost by around 61%. 

RFP alert: DOE to provide $1.2 billion for transmission buildout The RFP will use capacity contracts to commit DOE to purchase up to 50% of the maximum capacity of a transmission line.

Super Bowl to be hosted in first 100% renewable energy NFL stadium The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas sources 10 MW of off-site solar, as well as wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power, among other sustainability measures.

Utah bill proposes rooftop solar net metering rate protection In the wake of net metering cuts leading to an industrywide implosion in California, Utah regulators are proposing a law that would increase compensation for exporting rooftop solar generation.

Yaskawa Solectria Solar to exhibit U.S.-made utility-scale inverters In partnership with solar panel manufacturer First Solar, the company developed the inverters to reduce degradation rates.

People on the move: GlidePath Power Solutions, Onyx Renewable Partners, and more Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Nextracker, known for its solar technology tracker solutions used in large utility-scale solar projects, announced 600 projects delivered in its distributed generation (DG) portfolio. The company also announced the signing of two new agreements in the DG space.

The agreements are with channel partners RP Construction Services and Vergo who are trained to resell the company’s flagship NX Horizon solar tracker to help scale Nextracker’s DG sales to the commercial and industrial segment.

“Distributed generation technology plays a key role in solving energy grid infrastructure challenges to meet rising global demand for clean energy,” said Dan Shugar, Nextracker founder and CEO.“ We are appreciative to be working with leading channel partners, RPCS and Vergo. Together we are supporting DG customers with design, inventory, logistics, construction management, commissioning, and service support.”

DG resources with ground mount solar tracker systems are typically up to 30 MW each in capacity. When paired with batteries they can form microgrids that are connected to the distribution grid but can also disconnect to form its own system when needed.

An example of such a tracker-based microgrid is California National Guard’s Joint Forces Training Base (JFTB) in Los Alamitos, which provides critical support during events such as wildfires and earthquakes. The installation includes 31 MW of solar, 40 MWh of battery energy storage and 3 MW of backup generators. During every day operation, the power generated goes to the grid. But when the grid is down, the microgrid can disconnect from the grid and “island,” so that the electricity generated by the microgrid serves the training base’s operations.

Nextracker reports that its NX Horizon’s smart solar trackers are well-suited for both utility-scale and DG solar projects and that it has 90 GW of smart solar trackers operational or under fulfillment around the world. The NX Horizon platform allows EPCs to conform to sites with irregular and rolling terrain layouts, the company says.

“The combination of Nextracker’s technology performance advantages, proven total project cost savings, and ability to be deployed just about anywhere including challenging project sites on tight schedules is a big win for us and our DG customers,” said Eb Russell, CEO RPCS.

In January, Nextracker completed its spin-off from Flex, becoming its own entity. Founded in 2013, Nextracker was acquired in 2015 by Flex for $330 million, and it has become a leader in the U.S. solar tracker market with its integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and distributed generation solar power plants around the world.

The company achieved a record third quarter 2023, with quarterly revenue reaching $710 million, but 38% year-over-year. It raised its guidance for fiscal year 2024 to between $2.425 billion and $2.475 billion, up from previous estimate of $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion.

Solar corporate funding rises 42% globally in 2023 Over $34.3 billion was raised over 160 deals, said a report from Mercom Capital.

Off-grid solar EV charging system designed for quick installation  PairTree features bifacial solar panels available in 4.6 kW and 5 kW units combined with a 42.4 kWh capacity storage system and one or two AC level 2 EV chargers.

Alaskan tribal communities form independent power producers for renewables projects Alaskan tribal communities are improving the payback on renewables projects by forming independent power producers, thus gaining access to a state subsidy.

Recurrent Energy secures $160 million for Louisiana solar project Microsoft will be the sole offtaker of energy produced by the 98 MW Bayou Galion Solar project, supporting its goal to be carbon negative by 2030.

Summit Ridge plans 26 community solar installations in Illinois Each of the installations within the 82 MW portfolio will average 3MW and most will include pollinator habitat.

Enphase Q4 revenues drop 35% in U.S. and 70% in Europe Reduced demand and reduced shipments due to high unsold inventory at distributors cratered the company’s revenues in its Q4 2023 report.

The 26 community solar installations planned by Summit Ridge Energy are part of the Illinois Shines program, which is legislation passed in 2016 that supports the development of distributed generation as well as community solar projects.

The solar projects in the new portfolio will average about 3 MW and will use bifacial solar modules mounted on single-axis solar trackers. The majority of these projects will be designed with pollinator-friendly habitats.

Summit Ridge reports that Castillo Engineering will provide design and engineering services on the portfolio, with many of the projects beginning construction in Q1 2024. All 26 are expected to be completed by Q4 2024, at which point Costello and Summit Ridge Energy together will have completed over 120 projects totaling over 375 MW combined. By the end of the year, the two will collectively have a community solar portfolio of over 500 MW in Illinois.

“We chose to work with Castillo Engineering on this portfolio of projects due to their extensive community solar experience within Illinois, their Project Management Office, as well as their highly customized solutions,” said Pradeep Mohanraj, vice president of engineering at Summit Ridge Energy.

Illinois has a strong and growing solar market mainly as a result of the state’s renewable portfolio standard that requires that 25% of its energy comes from renewable sources by 2025. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the state had 2.35 GW of solar installed as of 2023 and that is expected to grow by more than 1,700% over the next five years.

Illinois is now ranked as the fourth largest U.S. state in terms of community solar operating capacity, according to the Institute on Local Self Reliance, with approximately 220 MW installed. Collectively, Summit Ridge Energy and Castillo Engineering will have a community solar portfolio of over 500 MW in Illinois by the end of 2024.

Overall, community solar capacity in the U.S. is expected to increase from about 6 GW in 2023 to 14 GW by 2028, according to Wood Mackenzie

Solar recycling headquarters and research lab opens in Arizona Backed by funding from leading corporations and institutions, Solarcycle sets up shop in Mesa, Arizona, to advance a circular economy for the solar industry.

IRS pre-registration portal open for IRA elective pay and transferable credits Registration through the portal is required to obtain a registration number to be included on the income tax return filings needed to claim direct cash payment or transfer credits.

Five drivers of New York City solar energy expansion Changing regulations, programs, and renewable energy targets are placing New York City on a path for increased solar buildout.

Increasing alternative energy standards would bring billions in investment to Pennsylvania Three business groups crunched the numbers and found that, if a 30% by 2030 plan was enacted, more than $13.1 billion could be invested in Pennsylvania in that time period and 129,000 jobs could be created.

Seven community solar projects to deliver bill savings to low-income residents Walmart, U.S Bancorp Impact Finance and Reactivate closed a tax equity transaction on the portfolio of solar projects in New York and Illinois.

Long-duration energy storage market to reach $223 billion in 20 years Alternatives to lithium-ion batteries are likely to emerge, according to a report on IDTechEx.

2023 delivers best year this century for irradiance In its weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast reports that last year, large regions were 10% or more above long term trends for solar radiation, including Western and Northern Europe, Eurasia, much of China, Southern Australia, the Midwestern and Southern U.S., Central and most of South America.

Array Technologies announces dual-row solar tracker upgrade New capabilities of the STI H250 position the tracker for use in utility-scale solar projects on hilly, uneven terrain as well as in agrivoltaic installations.

Transportation department testing dual-use solar snow fence Pairing electricity production with snow drift barriers to protect roads is being evaluated by the Minnesota department of Transportation.

Utility opposition stymies Fair Access to Community Solar Act in Washington Legislators in Washington State were hoping to boost the state’s community solar program with bills that would establish The Fair Access to Community Solar Act; however, supporters will have to wait another year.

Solar EV developer Aptera crowdfunds $33 million The new electric vehicle promises 400 miles of battery range and 40 miles of solar-generated range per day.

Array Technologies, a specialist in utility-scale solar tracking solutions, enhanced its Array STI H250 solar tracker with a new driveline motion transmission system, which Array said increases precision and efficiency.

The transmission system in this tracker comes from Array’s DuraTrack tracker. The company said this addition enables “effortless” removal of the driveline. This capability makes the tracker applicable for agrivoltaic installations, as the slew drives restrict the movement of each row when disconnected, which can allow passage for tractors and streamlining maintenance tasks between rows.

Other changes to the Array STI H250 include a reduced number of piles per tracker, improved east-west tilt, a wider north-south angle between rows and an integrated control system. It also can integrate with Array SmarTrack energy optimization software, designed to address specific challenges in utility-scale solar projects.

The suite includes specialized products like Array SmarTrack Backtracking, Array SmarTrack Diffuse, Array SmarTrack Automated Snow Response, and Array SmarTrack Automated Hail Response. Array said some utility-scale challenges can be undulating terrain and weather considerations, and that the new STI H250 can adjust its tilt based on the terrain, prevailing weather conditions and the specific geographical location of the installation.

Array is a 30-year-old tracker specialist that went public three years ago. In 2022, the company acquired European tacker company STI Nordland, expanding its geographic footprint. Array has since expanded into South and Central America.

Array said it is committed to domestic sourcing and manufacturing, and in 2022 announced an agreement with Lock Joint Tube, a manufacturer of mechanical and structural-grade steel tubing, to secure supply from a new steel mill in Texas. Using locally sourced steel in the production of solar tubing is in response to domestic content requirements in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Lock Joint Tube also produces steel tubing for Array at a torque tube mill in South Bend, Indiana.

Nextracker, one of the world’s largest providers of solar mounts, tracking, and software, announced the financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2023.

The company posted very strong results, with quarterly revenue reaching $710 million, but 38% year-over-year. It raised its guidance for fiscal year 2024 to between $2.425 billion and $2.475 billion, up from previous estimate of $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion. Following the strong revenue and guidance posting, the stock price is up over 20% in the subsequent trading day.

“Nextracker achieved a record third quarter, outperforming across revenue, profit and backlog,” said chief executive officer Dan Shugar. “Underpinned by product differentiation that is gaining momentum in the marketplace, we are raising our annual guidance once again.”

For the quarter, the company posted GAAP net income $128 million, diluted earnings per share of $0.87, adjusted EBITDA $168 million, up 168% year-over-year. Adjusted net income reached $142 million, while adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.96.

The company has achieved a record backlog of orders and is expanding its business beyond its primary market of the United States, which represents over 70% of its revenues. Nextracker achieved a 10 GW milestone in the Middle East, India and Africa for projects that are in operation or under fulfillment.

As of the report, the company has about $800 million in liquidity, with an operating cash flow of $317 million and adjusted free cash flow of $314 million year-to-date.

Increased guidance for 2024 includes a net income of $374 million to $429 million, raised considerably from the previous $237 million to $266 million. The revenue boost includes an estimated $50 million to $80 million of benefit from Inflation Reduction Act 45X tax credit vendor rebates. For 2024 Nextracker raised its guidance for diluted earnings per share to $2.53 to $2.90 (vs. previous $1.60 to $1.80).

“As the world transitions to renewable energy and with solar leading new power generation, we are well positioned as the global leader in trackers, and we’re just getting started,” said Shugar.

Business actions

This January, Nextracker completed its spin-off from Flex, becoming its own entity. Under the previously disclosed terms of the transactions, Flex shareholders received approximately 0.17 shares of Nextracker Class A common stock for every Flex ordinary share held as of the record date of December 29, 2023.

Founded in 2013, Nextracker was acquired in 2015 by Flex for $330 million, and it has become a leader in the U.S. solar tracker market with its integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and distributed generation solar power plants around the world. The company is known for its innovative technology as well as its dedication to made-in-America products.

In September 2023, the company announced it would open a new steel manufacturing plant in Las Vegas. The steel manufacturing facility will be owned and operated by Unimacts, a specialist in industrial manufacturing and supply chain solutions, and all steel components will be produced exclusively for Nextracker.

Also in September, the company announced three new next-generation solar tracker and software products. These include a hail-ready stowing mechanism, a terrain-following tracker and a new irradiance tracking system. Read about the product updates here.

Plug Power launches largest U.S. liquid green hydrogen plant in Georgia The move comes as interest in green hydrogen grows as a tool to decarbonize specific industries, including heavy-duty transportation, heavy manufacturing and aviation.

Bayer installs 4.4 MW of solar as part of sustainability commitment  Two solar projects, one developed by Enel North America and the other by DSD Renewables, align with Bayer’s sustainability commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

Agriculturally integrated solar takes flight Mindful land management in solar power development can enhance nearby land productivity, potentially garnering broader local approval, as emerging research underscores the financial and ecological benefits for neighboring agricultural operations.

Sandia National Laboratories design grid-resiliency algorithm The software includes various tools to isolate downed or damaged lines, automate energy production and consumption regulation and troubleshoot unintentional loops.

Radiative cooling tech for vertical solar panels Developed by a U.S.-Saudi research group, the novel technique employs two 45-degree inclined mirrors on the two sides of a PV module.

Venture capital funding in energy storage increases 59% year over year Mercom Capital reported the U.S. invested $9.2 billion of venture capital in energy storage in 2023.

ADT security exits rooftop solar business The home security provider posted losses of $89 million in its solar business over the first nine months of 2023.

The pharmaceutical, chemical, and agricultural biotechnology company, Bayer, which is based in Germany, is putting its sustainability goals into practice with two large-scale solar installations in the U.S.

In Woodland, California, Bayer enlisted Enel North America as developer of the 2.7 MW solar and 1 MW / 2 MWh energy storage system at its vegetable research and development site. Enel is the owner and operator and 100% offtaker, having signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Bayer.

The Woodland solar installation occupies approximately 10 of the 210 acres of the company’s property. The ground-mount system is expected to provide 70% of the site’s electrical energy demand, and avoid approximately 44,732 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the project’s lifetime. In addition, the battery bank will store excess energy for use when the system is not generating power, such as nighttime or in the event of a power outage.

Bayer also plans to have eight electric vehicle chargers installed for employee use later this year. And between the rows of solar panels, flowering cover crops, such as wildflowers, will be planted for pollinator habitat, soil remediation and aesthetic purposes.

“With this new installation, the Woodland site is the most onsite solar-powered operation within Bayer globally,” says Enrique Wehlen, head of sustainability, safety, health & environments (SSHE) North America at Bayer.

The second recently completed project is at Bayer’s main U.S. offices in Whippany, New Jersey. For this project Bayer partnered with DSD Renewables to complete a 1.7 MW ground mount solar installation that is expected to offset approximately 25% of the Whippany site’s total annual usage. The tracker-based installation is comprised of 3,600 modules.

The installation was designed to preserve the surrounding landscape, which involved shifting a fence line, limiting tree removal, adding river rock to match the site’s aesthetic, and coordinating closely with the team at Bayer to ensure its on-site bee colony at Whippany, which is used for tree pollination, was not disrupted.

“This installation is the perfect example of our approach to solar development, engineering, construction, and financing,” says Dan O’Brien, vice president of Commercial Origination at DSD.

Both projects align with Bayer’s sustainability commitments to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and to achieve net-zero waste across its entire value chain by 2050. A key strategy is to purchase 100% sustainable renewable electricity by 2030. Bayer is embracing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“These solar installations are a strong signal to our employees, customers and communities where we live and operate of our commitment to GHG emission reduction,” says Delf Bintakies, global head of sustainability, safety, health & environments (SSHE) at Bayer. “Bayer sets specific criteria for its own procurement of green energy. This includes the proximity of energy production facilities to Bayer sites, the use of new sources of generation and a focus on wind and solar power.”

Soltec announced the launch of its new SF7 USA solar tracker at Intersolar in San Diego, booth 720.

As the build-out of large-scale solar plants escalates in the U.S., the perfectly flat land easily amenable to solar is becoming scarce. Soltec is banking on its new trackers meeting a growing need in the market.

The SF7 is designed to adapt to terrain and to be easy to install in the field by cutting installation processes, reducing pile counts and taking other measures to streamline the design.

The tracker’s mounting tolerances range from 20 to 40 inches, and Soltec reports that the solar tracker can be installed on slopes of up to 17% and can be customized.

The SF7 tracker features wireless communication designed to withstand low temperatures. It uses Soltec’s TeamTrack system to ensure maximum production, delivering up to 6.8% more yield, Soltec reports. This works by minimizing shading losses between rows, especially on uneven terrain. Bifacial tracking also boosts efficiency, the company says, optimizing its position to make use of both sides of the module.

As with Soltec’s SFOne tracker, the SF7 includes Dy-Wind technology, which offers a method for designing wind-resistant tracking structures and the optimization of the diffuse booster system for low-light conditions. It also includes a Soltec-designed algorithm for hail defense, which is aimed at better protecting solar modules.

Like the SFOne, the SF7 can be locally manufactured, which Colin Caufield, VP of sales North America said is “reflecting our strong commitment to sustainability and support for American socio-economic development. It is a strategic market for us, and we want to be more than a technology provider, positioning ourselves as agents of change towards an energy-independent United States”.

Soltec sees the U.S. as a growing market for the Spanish firm. Europe currently accounts for about 27% of its turnover, with the U.S. accounting for 25% and Latin America 47%.