A new ‘Solar Totem Tracker’, which makes it possible to track the progress of the sun and direct light to PV panels, has been unveiled in Italy.
Enerqos plc, a leading photovoltaic system and solar power plant construction company and ESP, which designs and construction of metal structures for the photovoltaic sector, showcased their tracker at the recent PVTech 2008 exhibition in Milan.
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With dual-axis handling and a remote control operating system, the Solar Totem is one of the most advanced tracking systems available.
“We wanted to offer a unique alternative to existing market solutions,” said Fabrizio Piomboni, Director of ESP. “Our Solar Totem tracker was designed to meet the demands of a System Integrator like Enerqos, and it has enabled us to make considerable improvements, both on an installation level as well as a structural one.”
The tracker features a real time “solar” clock, enabling optimal positioning of both the azimuth/horizontal and tilt axes. Using this method makes it possible to track the sun’s movement across the sky, to ensure that the concentrated sunlight is directed to the panels.
After a test phase carried out in the ESP laboratory, one of the photovoltaic power plants currently being constructed by Enerqos served as a “real-life” field testing site. “This allowed us to check and substantiate the consistency and quality of the product and to verify that it is able to deliver on its promises,” said Stefano Goracci, VP of Operations, Enerqos. “As soon as it is mounted, the Solar Totem presents conclusive advantages, thanks to its ground anchor system which has beaten all previous records. We will certainly continue to use it in our forthcoming power plant installation projects throughout Europe,” he added.
