Solar Tracker for Photo voltaic Panels

unkel

+1

Panels are getting very cheap now. If you're not getting paid a feed in tariff and you have no real use of peak production in the early afternoon, it's probably a good idea to have fixed east + west facing arrays

unkel

Nice! Payback time what, about 500 years?

Art!

air

They're an impressive piece of engineering for sure, thanks for sharing the close up photos.

rolion

air wrote: »

If you have clear unobstructed views in every direction, you're likely to have plenty of space around you for fixed ground mounts.
PV is getting cheaper all the time and every drop in the cost of PV makes trackers less economic.
I have fixed arrays facing East, West and South now. I get a curve like the one you posted but obviously with a lower peak. If I had limitless space I still wouldn't go with a tracker. Fixed arrays require no maintenance and are far less vulnerable to storm damage.
I'd possibly consider manually adjustable tilt on ground mount racks but nothing more.

Correct up to a point... you dont need those mammut bases and pilons to get a decent solar tracker solution...just maintain the azimuth and elevation based on the year's Sun month angle and move the panels on East to West,even positioned at the gound based level.

In event of strong wind,they have protection that goes perfect alligned horisontal field.Also,is easy to clear the rain,snow or dust.

But,all applies to ground clearance and local environment...why do some power plants does not use them while others does !?

Taking in calcule virtual numbers,you with a fixed array 6Kw installeld power 3 arrays,will have 2kw in East,2ish on South and 2 in the West.
Me,with a tracker 6KW power i will have 6 in the East,6ish on South and 6 on the West

air

I've never seen a commercial solar PV installation that uses trackers. If there are any I'd guess that they're old.

unkel

+1

Maybe when panels were 10 times the price they are now it made economic sense. For sure now it doesn't.

taytobreath

any release date on this refit for solar farms yet. why are they so slow.

samdeluxjones

Why did they get rid of it in the first place? Too progressive for Ireland? Can't be having lads saving a few quid at our expense..

You would think with EU emissions targets they would get the skates on again but if they don't give a feck what the EU are saying about the corporate tax why bother with stupid emissions..:mad: