Trina monocrystalline silicon array, large-scale dual axis trackers
These dual-axis tracking arrays adjust the orientation of the panels through the day to maximise their exposure to the sun.
To take advantage of the available area on the tracking array, efficient monocrystalline panels have been used.
The trackers operate by continually monitoring light intensity, and processing this information to drive the arrays’ motorised supports. At sunrise, light hitting the sensor at the rear of the control units will trigger movement back towards the east. On a completely overcast day, the panel surface adjusts to horizontal.
The control and drive systems use less than one watt of DC power from the array's output. Tracking is expected to increase this array's output by 35%.
The long term performance of these tracking arrays can be compared to that of the fixed Trina monocrystalline array to see the gain contributed by the trackers at different times of the year.
Solar Inception delivers complete photovoltaic power plants. They are distributors for Trina Solar, a photovoltaic manufacturing company based in China.
| Electricity produced (annual): | 68.98 MWh* |
|---|---|
| System size: | 6 x 5.25 kW |
| Array area: | 6 x 38.37 m² |
| Number of panels: | 6 x 30 |
| Panel efficiency: | 13.68 % |
| Panel type: | Trina TSM-175DC01 |
| Panel rated output: | 175 W |
| Inverter size, type: | 6 x 6 kW, SMA SMC 6000A |
| Type of tracker: | DEGERenergie 5000NT, dual axis |
| Installation completed: | 8 January 2009 |
*This figure is based on an assumption of 1.622 MWh annually, per kWp of installed solar panels. This may prove to be a conservative estimate for Alice Springs. A 35% gain from the tracking system has been assumed.