Tracking Vs Fixed Solar Panels

They tend to have higher installation and maintenance costs.

Tracking vs fixed solar panels.

In a world of rapidly decreasing prices for solar ppas increased power production is critical in helping project owners achieve a viable roi. Or you could buy a tracker for 600 1000 per panel. A ground mount for a six panel system will cost about 480 in materials. Tracking systems offer greater levels of energy output compared to fixed solar arrays because they can follow the sun s movements.

You can buy hardware for a standard fixed ground mount for about 80 per panel. Lastly tracking systems are more expensive to maintain over the 25 year life of a system. Pros of solar trackers. The maximum output of the panels is achieved when the panels are perpendicular to the sun s rays.

This research is an empirical financial assessment of the benefit of using a dual axis sun tracker versus a fixed flat position as well as a comparison of the performance of the two panels under such settings. Compared to a fixed mount the additional cost per watt or premium to track is 1 33 per watt 2 24 0 91. The roi of a pv tracker vs. If you put six 305w panels on a tracker the rated output on your system is 1830w.

That increases the installed cost for a tracked pv system from 8 63 to 9 96 per dc watt. Benefits of fixed pv systems. Fixed tracking systems offer more field adjustability than single axis tracking systems. Fixed systems can generally accommodate up to 20 slopes in the e w direction while tracking systems typically offer less of a slope accommodation usually around 10 in the n s direction.

Most of the pv power plant designed fixed type of installation. Tracker systems are the alternative of standard installation with a different variety. Trackers increase the production of a site by more than 15 to 25 over fixed tilt. 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.

This also leads to the second area of increased cost for solar tracking systems. On the other hand it s also possible to produce more energy with the same quantity pv panels and inverters. Typically fixed tilt systems require 4 5 acres per megawatt while tracking systems need 4 7 acres per megawatt. An additional 20 of acreage for tracking systems is a good rule of thumb for checking the economics.

The variety of trackers available from manufacturers like allearth solar and first sunergy makes it possible to find a unit that s just right for your needs.