Compare Fixed Panel And Tracking Panel Solar Panel

In a fixed form their efficiency is low since the panels will be tilted in a particular angle whereas in a tracking system the panel is made to move either in single axis or dual axis.

Compare fixed panel and tracking panel solar panel.

And keith beisner field services manager and geotechnical testing expert for sunlink powercare. In many cases it is cheaper to install more solar panels to increase the system s energy output than it is to install a solar tracker. In addition to a fixed tilt two types of solar panel exist that can track the sun. By emily paris senior associate product manager for sunlink.

While solar trackers will increase the solar panel system s energy production they are very expensive and can potentially double the cost of installing solar panels. Typical land use for fixed pv can be 4 to 5 acres per megawatt while a. Tracking systems have a larger area footprint per megawatt so space constrained areas will be less attractive for trackers. With a more complex system comes more maintenance which can add up in cost over time.

Lastly tracking systems are more expensive to maintain over the 25 year life of a system. Most of the pv power plant designed fixed type of installation. In the battle for ground mount market share many would argue that single axis trackers now rule the day relegating the less sophisticated fixed tilt technology to second best. An additional 20 of acreage for tracking systems is a good rule of thumb for checking the economics.

The maximum output of the panels is achieved when the panels are perpendicular to the sun s rays. Tracker systems are the alternative of standard installation with a different variety. This research is an empirical financial assessment of the benefit of using a dual axis sun tracker versus a fixed flat position as well as a comparison of the performance of the two panels under such settings. Tracked fixed pole top ground mount it is well known that if you compare identical arrays one fixed and the other tracked that the tracked array will annually outperform the fixed array.

A solar tracker will cost more money up front than a fixed solar panel system because it is a more complex technology and has moving parts. This also leads to the second area of increased cost for solar tracking systems. Typically fixed tilt systems require 4 5 acres per megawatt while tracking systems need 4 7 acres per megawatt.