PV Trackers [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

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In general, I have seen 10% to 15% more energy production in winter even in
locations with 40% of possible sunshine (cloudy) and 40% to 50% increase
summer production in the same locations when the Zomeworks tracker tilt
angle is reduced. If a customer has open ground space and likes tracker
(they do look very sci-fi), trackers pay for themselves as compared to fixed
mounts. The two caveat are strong prevailing winds can point a Zomeworks
tracker in the wrong direction and all trackers get a lot of stress in gusty
locations. (People also get stressed out in windy locations. Didn't Bob
Dylan write a song about suicide in windy Oklahoma?)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Windy Dankoff, Dankoff Solar" <windy at dankoffsolar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: PV Trackers [RE-wrenches]




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Wrenches,

Nobody has mentioned seasonal-load pattern as a criteria for the choice
to use tracking. Passive trackers have always been popular for solar
pumps for agricultural applications where the most energy is needed in
clear summer weather. That's precisely when tracking gives the most
gain and has (with passive) the least problem with performance. It also
helps prevent pump stall at the early and late times of the day.

I would immediately advise against it for high-winter load and
predominantly cloudy / hazy climates, or sites that have the solar arc
restricted by shadows early or late in day.

Some swear by and some swear at passive trackers, but durability
doesn't seem to be such an issue. We've soldZomeworks trackers since
1981 and I've rarely seen failures (leaks) -- never any that are
structural and endanger the array as far as I know. They can always use
more refinement to work more consistently however. I have one at home.
It wakes up and tracks very consistently, even in turbulent wind and
cold, but never swings the full arc.

Windy

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