Problems inherent in siting solar power projects on sloping and undulating terrain have emerged as developers seek to meet the demand for utility-scale solar plants. Deviations from flat landforms introduce more risk and cost to projects and require significant earthwork and longer foundation pile lengths. These issues are eliminated with a terrain-following, single-axis tracker developed by California-based Nextracker.

The terrain-following capabilities of the Horizon-XTR system are engineered to reduce grading, minimize steel costs and decrease project risks. Without adhering to the straight-line row design constraint by conforming to the existing ups and downs of north-south ground slope undulations, these new trackers no longer require installation along a single plane but can follow natural site contours. A self-contained tracker motor provides adaptive tracking, allowing each tracker row in an installation to operate independently from other rows.

The trackers enable cost-effective solar power system placement on sloped and uneven terrain. Source: NextrackerThe trackers enable cost-effective solar power system placement on sloped and uneven terrain. Source: Nextracker

The solar tracker has been field-tested at utility scale for three years, with savings in the millions attributable to reduced grading and shorter piles. Over 15 NX Horizon-XTR sites are currently operational and dozens of additional projects are under design and construction in the U.S. and international markets. The technology has been deployed on over 3 GW of cumulative projects, with savings of up to 90% less cut and fill earthmoving work and piers up to 36 inches shorter documented to date.

To contact the author of this article, email shimmelstein@globalspec.com