Fixed Solar Panels Vs Tracking

Trackers increase the production of a site by more than 15 to 25 over fixed tilt.

Fixed solar panels vs tracking.

Pros of solar trackers. Most of the pv power plant designed fixed type of installation. A solar tracker will cost more money up front than a fixed solar panel system because it is a more complex technology and has moving parts. Lastly tracking systems are more expensive to maintain over the 25 year life of a system.

On the other hand it s also possible to produce more energy with the same quantity pv panels and inverters. Tracking systems offer greater levels of energy output compared to fixed solar arrays because they can follow the sun s movements. An additional 20 of acreage for tracking systems is a good rule of thumb for checking the economics. So why exactly are we seeing this shift from fixed tilt to single axis trackers.

Fixed rack system 3 vs tracked system 4 cost breakdown the tracking price is 2 24 per dc watt. One factor involves the light reception angles at the panels in which the intensity of the received solar radiation from the sun at the earth is affected significantly by the diurnal and seasonal movement of the earth. Tracker systems are the alternative of standard installation with a different variety. Fixed pv systems when it comes to cost the difference between fixed solar whether it be roof or ground mount and solar tracker systems generally comes down to whether you want to spend less money up front or save considerably more over the life system.

Typically fixed tilt systems require 4 5 acres per megawatt while tracking systems need 4 7 acres per megawatt. That increases the installed cost for a tracked pv system from 8 63 to 9 96 per dc watt. In a world of rapidly decreasing prices for solar ppas increased power production is critical in helping project owners achieve a viable roi. Benefits of fixed pv systems.

This also leads to the second area of increased cost for solar tracking systems. Compared to a fixed mount the additional cost per watt or premium to track is 1 33 per watt 2 24 0 91. The performance of photovoltaic panels depends on many factors. The maximum output of the panels is achieved when the panels are perpendicular to the sun s rays.

Typical land use for fixed pv can be 4 to 5 acres per megawatt while a.