FTC Solar’s 1P Solar Tracking System

• FTC's Pioneer Tracker supports various framed module types, 3 strings per row for 1,500V systems or 4 strings per row for 1,000V systems
• The Tracker accommodates all module factors, including those over 2.4 meters in length
• The Pioneer Tracker enables more than 5% greater energy output for a given land area due to its high-density design.

FTC Solar during Intersolar 2023 unveils a new 1P solar tracking system called Pioneer, offering several advantages over existing solutions in the industry. The Pioneer Tracker offers versatility, accommodating various framed module types like mono, poly, bifacial, FSLR6, and FSLR6+. Pioneer Tracker supports 3 strings per row and up to 30 modules per string for 1,500V systems; and for 1,000V systems, it supports 4 strings per row with max 20 modules every string, enabling different system configurations.

The tracker can handle large modules, especially even the wider ones with power rating of 550 W and 600 W without the need for Torque Tube (TT) dimpling or through-bolts, providing easy module changes and retrofits. It boasts a high slope tolerance, including a 17.5% north-south tracker row allowance, and accommodates all module factors, including those over 2.4 meters in length. It reduces the pile count per megawatt by 18-36%, resulting in significant cost savings in terms of labor and materials. Pioneer also enables more than 5% greater energy output for a given land area due to its high-density design. FTC's Pioneer tracker utilizes its proprietary Voyager 2P single-row drive and control systems, which have been validated and field tested.

The drive requires no auxiliary power and provides data communication and power redundancy. Over-the-air software updates enable seamless upgrades. The Pioneer Tracker utilizes SunPath software for individual row backtracking, optimizing performance during diffuse light conditions and increasing system reliability. It offers various stow configurations, including wind stow at 0°, snow stow at 0°, and hail stow at 50° back to wind, ensuring protection in diverse weather conditions. The tracker also supports terrain-based backtracking, adapting solar tracking based on shading and terrain, with a ground coverage ratio of 30-60% and a tolerance of up to 10° in the North- South direction, making it suitable for installation in different terrains.

The text is an excerpt from TaiyangNews New Solar Products Overview H1/2023, which can be downloaded for free here.