TrinaTracker has globally published a white paper “Strategies to Mitigate Wind Related Risks in Trackers Compatible with Ultra-High-Power Modules” after launching the "Ensuring the Tracker Stability in Extreme Weather Conditions” webinar in partnership with PV Magazine. TrinaTracker ratified the stability of its Agile 1P and Vanguard 2P trackers in extreme weather conditions by performing wind tunnel tests in collaboration with the leading wind engineering consultancy firms CPP and RWDI.
PV tracking systems have become critical investments for asset owners and investors who expect long-lasting and reliable systems to optimize returns. Nowadays, PV plants are installed in various sites, many of them with highly demanding terrain characteristics and extreme weather conditions. Moreover, the mounting of ultra-high-power modules, which are in strong demand by the industry, involves higher wind loads added to the trackers. The solar industry has long realized that building codes do not consider the tracker-specific aeroelastic effects produced by the action of wind. Therefore, more advanced analytic tests are necessary for reliable tracker design.
In the webinar, Markus Balz, Managing Director of independent third-party global leading renewable energy engineering consulting firm SBP, and Trina Solar's presenters Cruz Argüeso Chamorro (Senior Civil Engineer, TrinaTracker) Marcos Cerezo (Engineer, TrinaTracker) and Gonzalo de la Viña (Head of Europe, Trina Solar) discussed the different models used in wind tunnel testing and the importance of performing the Full Aeroelastic Model Test. They also presented TrinaTracker’s optimized design solutions to mitigate wind-related risk on trackers. The designs include strengthened structures and different stow strategies for 1P and 2P configurations according to the wind tunnel tests results, which further upgrade the stability and reliability of TrinaTracker in terms of application with ultra-high-power modules.
Markus Balz, Managing Director of SBP, stated: “After several years of supporting tracker companies, EPCs and developers in the field of trackers, it is a relief to see TrinaTracker offering sophisticated design approaches to tackle safety and cost optimization at the same time.”
Jason Duan, Head of Tracker business unit, Trina Solar, said: “I am proud to confirm that TrinaTracker offers a bankable product to asset owners and investors. TrinaTracker will continue to put its efforts into designing optimized tracking solutions for customers that can provide validated reliability, durability and maximum energy yield in every site.”
To know more about how TrinaTracker ensures tracker stability in extreme weather conditions, please download the whitepaper at: https://pages.trinasolar.com/WindTunnelWP.html