The Schletter Tracking System belongs to a rare group of HSAT systems that do not require a central torque tube, each row is self-powered, as shown by the data provided for our 2nd Solar Tracker Market Survey. A dedicated PV panel with a battery backup system provides the power to the controller and the motor. For bifacial gain optimization, Schletter adjusted the reverse side of the system’s tables. The German company reduced the size of the steel sections and elevated the modules by approximately 100 mm from these sections to avoid shading on the backside and optimize it for bifacial use.

The Schletter Tracking System uses a patented self-locking mechanism. Each post is equipped with a mechanical locking element, which locks immediately when the row has stopped moving. This eliminates all wind-induced vibrations for the entire row; and in the resting position, the system has the characteristics and resilience of a fixed installation.

The Schletter Tracker’s upper assembly with the drive unit is delivered pre-assembled, facilitating faster installation times. In our recent 2nd TaiyangNews Market Survey on Solar Trackers, Schletter provided data for their HSAT system. This HSAT mainly supports two module mounting possibilities – 2P, H4 and the newly added 1P. While the typical row size is mentioned as 240 modules over a length of 120 m, it changes according to the configuration. The tracker accommodates 120 modules in 2P and 240 modules in 4H mounting, while the 1P accommodates 90 large form factor modules , which according to the company is the latest development.

The German company uses GPS coordinates and the time to implement the tracking system position and terrain information for its 3D tracking adjustments and the distances between the rows. The tracking system uses these values and the tracking itself takes place with an astronomical algorithm. Schletter Trackers are IEC 62817 and UL 3703 & 2703 certified and come with the market standard 10-year warranty for structure and 5 years for electromechanical components.

In April, 2023, Schletter announced that the company is building a 1 GW manufacturing factory in Turkey’s Dilovasi near Istanbul, to produce racking systems for ground mounted PV power plants initially (see Schletter Expanding Manufacturing Footprint).

The text is of product description part from TaiyangNews 2nd Market Survey on Solar Trackers, which was published in Dec. 2022 and can be downloaded for free here.