Many utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants lack smart control systems that can react quickly to and put an entire solar power array into a protective 60° stow angle when extreme weather conditions threaten. The The system can instantly command a tracker for extreme weather events such as hail, hurricanes and heavy snow. Source: NEXTrackertimely information needed to take such action is now provided by advanced software and a smart control system from NEXTracker.

NX Navigator can be used to instantly command a tracker for extreme weather events such as hail, hurricanes and heavy snow. By quickly arranging an array at a 60° angle, damage potential is markedly reduced as hail resistance module toughness is tripled. For snow events, two snow shed operations can be scheduled daily to remove snow cover on panels and maintain power production.

The program extends the functionality of the company’s TrueCapture self-adjusting tracker control system that increases typical PV power plant energy by up to 6%. The system boosts PV power plant production by continuously optimizing the tracking algorithm of each individual row in response to site features and changing weather conditions. NX Navigator incorporates new monitoring data, maintenance controls and instant risk avoidance tools using high rotation speed trackers.