11 July 2012
SPG Solar today launched the next generation of its All Weather SunSeeker tracker at Intersolar North America 2012, taking place this week at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco, California, US. This updated single-axis tracker technology has been engineered by SPG Solar to cost less over its lifetime, deliver more solar energy over its lifetime and to last in all weather conditions. The SunSeeker is an automated single-axis tracker that follows the sun through the course of the day and produces up to 25% more solar energy than a fixed-tilt system.
The Sunseeker now provides a solution for commercial photovoltaic (PV) customers in all regions of the US, even those areas that face harsh weather conditions. It has been tested and third-party approved for wind speeds of up to 155 miles per hour (mph), or ~250 kilometres per hour (kph), which is the equivalent of a category 4 hurricane. A system this robust allows sun-rich markets such as the Southeastern US and Puerto Rico to take advantage of solar's cost-saving benefits without worry.
The features of the SPG Solar All Weather SunSeeker tracker include:
• From desert conditions to hurricane zones to snowy regions, engineered for performance and built to last
• SPG Solar installed a solar tracker at the highest elevation in the US and the lowest, from the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada to the desert of Death Valley, California
• Passed rigorous destructive testing and wind-tunnel testing tests
• Configurable for wind speeds of up to 155mph; capable of withstanding category 4 hurricanes, opening up new markets such as Florida, US or islands such as Puerto Rico
• 20% fewer posts by mounting three modules in the landscape and spanning farther between foundations than its competitors, saves $27,077 (USD) per megawatt (MW)
• Fewer motors—one motor for 650 kilowatts (kW) direct current (DC)—and fewer overall moving parts (no additional gears, actuators or universal joints between rows) per MW than competitors
• Produces up to 25% more power than a fixed-tilt system
• Pre-assembled with eight unique parts, reducing labour costs (less than 2 man hours/kW for module and tracker install)
• Faster permitting because of third-party approval and engineering validation
• Designed for quick and easy installation and fully scalable for multi-MW systems
The All Weather SunSeeker is available commercially now, with projects under construction and a multi-MW tracker deal recently signed in Mexico.
