Nevados, a solar tracker producer based in the United States, has introduced a groundbreaking all-terrain tracker. This innovative technology enables the utilization of land that was previously deemed unsuitable for solar PV projects.
According to Nevados, the TRACE All-Terrain Tracker is designed to operate on slopes of up to 37% and features 75% hail stowing capability to shield modules from hail and snow damage. Additionally, it incorporates anti-shading technology to enhance energy production.
The company highlighted that the tracker offers bidirectional, automatic stow functionality, leading to a wind and hail stow process that is up to 50% faster. Stowing refers to the adjustment of solar module angles to safeguard them against inclement weather conditions, controlled by digital management software integrated within the trackers. Earlier this year, PV Tech Premium published an article focusing on stowing and its role in mitigating hail damage.
Yezin Taha, the CEO and founder of Nevados, emphasized the increasing need for adaptable solutions in the solar industry, as flat or gently sloping land becomes scarce and costly. Taha stated, “The solar industry requires solutions that can effectively accommodate the diverse terrains found worldwide.”
With the continuous acceleration of global solar installations, the demand for land will also increase. According to the latest forecast from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Global PV Market Outlook, the world is expected to install 592GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2024, and this estimate might even be considered conservative.
At the same time, governments around the world are introducing limitations on the use of land for solar PV projects. Italy has recently imposed restrictions on utilizing agricultural land for solar installations, France is encountering hurdles due to its elaborate planning and permitting regulations in the solar market, and the Ontario government in Canada has recently prohibited developments on “prime” agricultural land for solar projects.
Nevados, along with similar companies, aims to not only expand the availability of usable land but also minimize the requirement for land leveling, a common practice in the solar industry that can negatively affect land quality and biodiversity. Yezin Taha authored a technical paper on this topic for PV Tech Premium last year.
The company also mentioned in a press release that the trackers can be manufactured in a manner that fully adheres to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Domestic Content bonus. This bonus provides an additional 10% tax credit to solar projects that incorporate a minimum of 40% US-manufactured components, with the threshold set to increase to 55% next year.
Activity related to the Domestic Content bonus has been on the rise of late. As an illustration, Summit Ridge Energy, a community solar developer, inked an agreement with Siemens to acquire US-manufactured string inverters. This move would allow the company to surpass the mandated minimum content thresholds.
According to Nevados, they offer an international version of their trackers for companies that don’t need to comply with US regulations. The company is currently accepting orders for trackers that will be shipped in the second quarter of 2025.
