Solar Trackers
Solar trackers move with the sun across the sky to maximize the amount of energy they create.
Always Facing the Sun
Solar trackers are solar electric systems consisting of photovoltaic panels mounted on poles installed in the ground. Solar trackers are designed to move with the sun as it crosses the sky, keeping the solar panels at a perpendicular angle to the sun’s rays. This maximizes the amount of light reaching the panels, which in turn maximizes the amount of energy they generate.
Passive vs. Active Solar Trackers
There are two types of trackers: active and passive. Passive trackers use the heat of the sun to move the panels into the correct position through a system of tubes containing low-boiling point compressed fluid. Passive tracker systems’ positioning accuracy can be compromised on cloudy or cold days, which can lead to a loss in energy production.
The AllSun Tracker is an active tracker which uses a motor and GPS (Global Positioning System) to precisely position the solar panels into the sun every minute of the day. The increased power production from AllSun’s highly accurate positioning of the PV panels far outweighs the added cost of the motor and its energy use.
Super Efficient with an Active Dual-Axis System
Trackers can move on a single-axis or dual-axis. The solar panels of a single-axis system are at a fixed angle but turn on one axis from east to west as the sun rises and sets. The AllSun Tracker is a dual-axis system that turns both from east to west and changes its vertical axis so the panels always follow the sun’s elevation. A dual-axis system captures the most possible sunlight.
Fixed solar panels are mounted in one place and do not move. In New England, a fixed solar cell will produce approximately one-kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity per year for every watt installed. The same one-watt solar cell placed on the AllSun Tracker will produce about 1.4 kWh per year, a 40% increase in energy generation because it is on a dual-axis active tracker.
 |
The meter on your home will measure the flow of electricity generated by the AllSun Solar Tracker, as well as power drawn from the grid. |