For their Array STI H250 dual-row tracker, Arraytechinc.com, a multinational supplier of solar tracking technology products, added backtracking and diffuse optimization features to its SmarTrack software. With this development, H250 installations worldwide can now utilize algorithm training and optimization tools that were previously proven on the DuraTrack platform.
Neil Manning, president and COO of Array, said,
“Our H250 tracker has long been a reliable solution in markets with difficult site conditions, and the addition of SmarTrack Backtracking and Diffuse takes its performance to the next level. We’re enabling our customers to maximize their solar energy output across more regions and more types of terrain by utilizing algorithmic training and real-time sensor data, which will ultimately improve project returns.”
The H250 tracker is designed to handle the difficulties presented by uneven terrain. The goal of SmarTrack Backtracking and Diffuse is to increase energy output in challenging situations with unpredictable weather. Even on overcast days, these technologies help trackers automatically adjust to reduce shade and optimize light collection.
An array SmarTrack Backtracking increases morning and evening energy generation and decreases shade by using terrain analysis, production data, and algorithmic training. To achieve long-term increases in energy production, the system modifies each motor block according to its slope characteristics. When direct sunlight is scarce, the system increases yields by adjusting tracker angles to capture more diffuse light, utilizing real-time global horizontal irradiance sensor data.
These capabilities are currently available for both new and existing H250 projects, having been tested in Brazil and Spain. Over 5 GW of solar capacity is now being optimized globally by SmarTrack in conjunction with Array’s hardware and integrated software platform.
