…the sun is movingFollowing the evolution of new technologies regarding sustainable energy production,
Mechatron S.A. developed Atlas Solar series of tracking systems, aiming at the
optimum utilization of the solar power available.
Why solar trackers
A solar tracker is a device that keeps track of the sun's march across the sky. The sun's position in the sky varies with the time of day as the sun moves across the sky, as well as with the seasons. There are two kinds of trackers: single-axis ones, tracking the apparent motion of the sun through the day, and dual-axis trackers that track both the seasonal north-south motion of the sun and the daily one. The fact is that tracking can substantially improve both the amount of total solar energy produced and that produced during critical system demand periods. Summer is a big loss for fix installation due to the longer day hours.
 Solar powered equipment works best when being oriented at right angles toward the sun, so a solar tracker can increase the effectiveness and productivity of such equipment over any fixed position at the cost of additional system complexity which, of course, is overbalanced by additional energy output. Especially solar photovoltaic panel applications, require a high degree of accuracy to ensure maximum effectiveness. That is because solar modules can generate more power when sunlight is perpendicular to the panel, and so at least single-axis tracking is mandatory.  . . the most reliable way of investing your moneyThe following chart shows a brief comparative evaluation of solar energy production of an 1kWp PV power plant with fixed PV installation and of one with Atlas Solar Tracker. The sunlight data refer to Crete, the PV modules used are conventional ones, while the system losses taken into account are 21,8%. It is obvious that the dual-axis solar tracking robotic system Atlas maximizes the produced solar energy and increases the profit of such an investment by up to 40% compared with fixed installations.
Annual energy production per peak kilowatt of a PV installation In the investment analysis shown below, we can see that the annual energy output of an 80kWp power plant installation with Atlas T150 located in Crete, is increased by up to 40% compared to a PV installation with fixed structures. It follows that when the price paid per kWh under a feed-in tariff is at 0,5€ (for Crete), then we have an additional income of 21.560€ annually from an 80kWp power plant installation with Atlas T150 compared to one with fixed structures.
Investment analysis for an 80kWp PV power plant
installation located in Crete
Facts:
Annual energy production per peak kilowatt of a PV installation with fixed structures
| 1401kW/h
| 40% additional output with Atlas T150
| 1940kW/h
|
Price per kW/h in 2009 0,50€
Annual income from an 80kWp PV power plant installation with fixed structures
| 56.040€
| Annual income from an 80kWp PV power plant installation with Atlas T150
| 77.600€
| Annual additional income from an 80kWp PV power plant installation with Atlas T150
| 21.560€
|
- Additional yield of up to 40% compared with fixed installations.
- Increased Net Present Value (NPV) of up to 50% for a typical power plant.
ATLAS series, besides a solar tracking system, is at the same time a complete solution for the implementation of PV power plants. PV modules, inverters and other materials from a variety of manufacturers are combined easily to provide a solution which is far more standardized than any other alternative. Atlas T150 - Dual Axis Solar Tracking SystemThe most successful dual axis tracker in the demanding Greek market. It's been already installed in more than 14MW Photovoltaic power plants. Atlas T80 - Single Axis Solar Tracking System Proven to increase energy production by up to 30% at a cost that approximates that of fixed installations, while requiring only minimal maintenance.
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