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While your critique is certainly true of the first generation of trackers, I'm not sure if you're familiar with a company called Qbotix[1]? They're just one ex

by wamatt 12y ago

While your critique is certainly true of the first generation of trackers, I'm not sure if you're familiar with a company called Qbotix[1]? They're just one example where innovation in the space is producing cheaper and more reliable tracking. The basic idea is instead of having per panel tracking devices, rather, use a simple robot run around a fixed track and adjust the panels as needed. Then repeat again and again, throughout the day. If the robot malfunctions, swap it for the spare. [1] http://www.qbotix.com/ http://www.qbotix.com/

jacquesm 12y ago
- wiring will have to deal with repeated bending (especially hard when it is far below 0) - you need more space otherwise the panels will shade each other - more components -> more cost - more components -> more can break (and will break) Swapping the robot for a spare is a very costly operation and can negate the power output by the panel whose robot malfunctioned over its entire lifetime after subtracting initial capital cost. And that's assuming that you will be able to obtain 'the spare' 10 years after you put the whole system into service.
- pinkyand 12y ago
  Of course those are factors , but qbotix has raised investment, has managed to get some commitments for solar projects, and there's even a company using their system in the UK offering to finance projects on a long term electricity purchase basis, claiming it's much cheaper than current providers: http://castillium.co.uk/tracking-solar/tracking-250kw/ http://castillium.co.uk/tracking-solar/tracking-250kw/ So qbotix might have good solutions for the issues you mention. And that is of course without having concentrated solar power, which makes a qbotix a more attractive offer.
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    Raising investment is not typically a sign of technological excellence. It could be but it's certainly not a reliable indicator. Long term reliability of such systems can only be determined in the long term. So far the score does not look good for trackers.
    - pinkyand 12y ago
      I'm not sure it would take the long term to determine reliability: there are engineers who specialize in that,and there are software tools to simulate the reliability of a mechanical systems. Whether this company did this or not is unknown, if they are offering this system on a per month basis, it makes sense they did some reasonable level of analysis of costs, because it would reduce their risk greatly.

by wamatt 12y ago

jacquesm 12y ago

- wiring will have to deal with repeated bending (especially hard when it is far below 0) - you need more space otherwise the panels will shade each other - more components -> more cost - more components -> more can break (and will break) Swapping the robot for a spare is a very costly operation and can negate the power output by the panel whose robot malfunctioned over its entire lifetime after subtracting initial capital cost. And that's assuming that you will be able to obtain 'the spare' 10 years after you put the whole system into service.

pinkyand 12y ago
Of course those are factors , but qbotix has raised investment, has managed to get some commitments for solar projects, and there's even a company using their system in the UK offering to finance projects on a long term electricity purchase basis, claiming it's much cheaper than current providers: http://castillium.co.uk/tracking-solar/tracking-250kw/ http://castillium.co.uk/tracking-solar/tracking-250kw/ So qbotix might have good solutions for the issues you mention. And that is of course without having concentrated solar power, which makes a qbotix a more attractive offer.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  Raising investment is not typically a sign of technological excellence. It could be but it's certainly not a reliable indicator. Long term reliability of such systems can only be determined in the long term. So far the score does not look good for trackers.
  - pinkyand 12y ago
    I'm not sure it would take the long term to determine reliability: there are engineers who specialize in that,and there are software tools to simulate the reliability of a mechanical systems. Whether this company did this or not is unknown, if they are offering this system on a per month basis, it makes sense they did some reasonable level of analysis of costs, because it would reduce their risk greatly.