Yesterday, a solar power plant said to be the largest of its kind opened near the California-Nevada border. The construction of the 392 megawatt Ivanpah power plant serves to underline the huge demands for alternative and sustainable energy sources worldwide.
This concentration on alternative energy is leading to positive projections for the Global Solar Tracker Market, which is expected to grow significantly, with a CAGR of more than 15 percent from 2014-2018.
A solar tracker acts like a really technologically advanced sunflower, and helps solar panels follow the sun, thereby increasing the amount of energy that a solar power plant can generate. A solar tracker uses light sensors to orient solar PV panels, thereby accounting for the daily movement of the sun as well as yearly variability in its position. This helps increase the overall output from solar power plants by 30-40 percent.
There are 2 main types of solar trackers dominating the market:
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Single-axis Tracker
Single-axis tracker rotate back and forth in one direction, following the sun from east to west during the day. They are generally more popular than their dual-axis counterparts due in part to the lower cost of installation.
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Dual-axis Tracker
Dual-axis trackers can move in two different directions in order to continually face the sun. They obtain maximum solar energy since the tracker follows the direction of sunlight both east to west (to follow its daily movement) and north to south (to account for variability throughout the year). Dual-axis trackers are typically used to orient a mirror and redirect sunlight along a fixed axis toward a stationary receiver, as is the case with the Ivanpah plant.
While both kinds of tracker can help output at solar power plants, their use is still somewhat stunted by their high cost of maintenance. A Solar tracker needs constant monitoring and maintenance since its efficacy is subject to seasonal fluctuations.
Additionally, in order for a solar tracker to be a cost effective investment for energy providers, it needs to work consistently over a long period of time. However, because a single solar tracker contain so many moving parts and motors, consistent performance can sometimes be questionable. So many different parts that all require maintenance can also impact the cost of maintaining trackers.
Despite these challenges the Global Solar Tracker Market is still expected to witness some significant growth. If the opening of the Ivanpah plant is anything to go by, increased investment from vendors and the related technological advancements in the field are just two factors that are expected to mitigate the impact of any challenges to the market. Consumer demand for more sustainable and renewable energy sources and the ensuing research and innovation in the field will continue to boost the solar tracker market over the coming years.
For more insights, view our Global Solar Tracker Market 2014-2018 report.
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