U.S. becomes largest market for solar tracking mounts
Publish Time：2022-10-28
Sources：
According to the latest market forecast, the global demand for solar tracking systems will be very strong, and this trend is not expected to change for at least the next 5 years. Photovoltaics is expanding at the speed of light globally as more governments realize that it is cheaper to replace fossil fuels with photovoltaics to supply electricity.
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In the medium term, the United States is expected to continue to be the largest market for solar tracking mounts, with China, Brazil, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates having huge market potential. In recent years, the Americas region will lead the world with a market share of over 47%, followed by Asia Pacific and EMEA. And GTM research shows that Mexico and Brazil are the two fastest growing PV markets in the world, each accounting for more than 1.5GW of tracker rack shipments in 2017.
Solar mounts are available in single-axis or dual-axis designs to maximize light absorption by tilting toward the sun. Typically, a single-axis tracking mount can deliver 20% more electricity than a fixed tilt mount. The proportion of dual-axis tracking brackets should be increased to 35%, and the cost is naturally slightly higher than that of single-axis tracking brackets. And if bifacial modules are used, the power generation can be increased by another 10%-15%.
According to EIA data in the United States, by the end of 2017, nearly 40% (about 10.4GW) of U.S. utility-scale photovoltaic systems were fixed-tilt systems rather than solar tracking systems. Another 76% of utility-scale fixed-tilt PV systems are tilted between 20 and 30 degrees.
The power output of a fixed-tilt PV system depends on the orientation of the PV modules relative to the sun. Components of a photovoltaic system collect solar radiation more efficiently when the sun hits the components vertically. Fixed-tilt photovoltaic systems use two different angles, azimuth and inclination, to determine the direction of the sun. Azimuth determines the orientation of the component, i.e. east, south, west, north. Most components in the northern hemisphere face south. The inclination angle refers to the angle formed with the horizontal ground. That is, an inclination of 0 degrees means that the module is flat on the ground, and 90 degrees means that the module is perpendicular to the ground, just like the outer wall of a building.
Latitude is often the primary factor in determining module tilt, and tilting modules southward at the same angle as their latitude maximizes solar exposure throughout the year. In the United States, photovoltaic systems in low latitudes usually have a smaller inclination angle, and photovoltaic systems installed in high latitudes usually have a steeper inclination angle.
In recent years, more and more photovoltaic power plants have installed tracking systems instead of fixed tilt systems. While tracking systems are more expensive than fixed-tilt systems, the additional electricity revenue generated by tracking the sun often outweighs the added cost.
Solar mounts are available in single-axis or dual-axis designs to maximize light absorption by tilting toward the sun. Typically, a single-axis tracking mount can deliver 20% more electricity than a fixed tilt mount. The proportion of dual-axis tracking brackets should be increased to 35%, and the cost is naturally slightly higher than that of single-axis tracking brackets. And if bifacial modules are used, the power generation can be increased by another 10%-15%.
According to EIA data in the United States, by the end of 2017, nearly 40% (about 10.4GW) of U.S. utility-scale photovoltaic systems were fixed-tilt systems rather than solar tracking systems. Another 76% of utility-scale fixed-tilt PV systems are tilted between 20 and 30 degrees.
The power output of a fixed-tilt PV system depends on the orientation of the PV modules relative to the sun. Components of a photovoltaic system collect solar radiation more efficiently when the sun hits the components vertically. Fixed-tilt photovoltaic systems use two different angles, azimuth and inclination, to determine the direction of the sun. Azimuth determines the orientation of the component, i.e. east, south, west, north. Most components in the northern hemisphere face south. The inclination angle refers to the angle formed with the horizontal ground. That is, an inclination of 0 degrees means that the module is flat on the ground, and 90 degrees means that the module is perpendicular to the ground, just like the outer wall of a building.
Latitude is often the primary factor in determining module tilt, and tilting modules southward at the same angle as their latitude maximizes solar exposure throughout the year. In the United States, photovoltaic systems in low latitudes usually have a smaller inclination angle, and photovoltaic systems installed in high latitudes usually have a steeper inclination angle.
In recent years, more and more photovoltaic power plants have installed tracking systems instead of fixed tilt systems. While tracking systems are more expensive than fixed-tilt systems, the additional electricity revenue generated by tracking the sun often outweighs the added cost.