Fitting in Tight Spots
Challenge: Irregular site boundaries
Our customer, SunEdison, wanted to make the most of NREL’s irregularly shaped piece of land they planned to use for a tracker installation. This utility scale system was to be installed on a mountaintop site atop Table Mesa, that had irregular site boundaries. High winds were also a design criteria for this site.
Solution: Articulating drive joints
Array’s proprietary articulating drive joints allowed NREL to maximize the use of their land. DuraTrack™ trackers could be arranged in blocks offset by 35° to more efficiently utilize the unevenly shaped property.
Installation on the property was simplified and accelerated since the articulating drive joints also allow for greatly relaxed installation tolerances and installation on undulating terrain.
Additional Information
- System Type: Utility Scale
- Location: National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL)
- DC Power: 750 kW
- Tracker: DuraTrack™ HZ
- Commissioned: 2008
Thriving in Extreme Cold
Challenge: Extreme temperatures
How do you keep electronics and other equipment working in -45° cold? Locations for utility scale projects range from alpine valleys to low deserts. So, Array has designed systems to be reliable in temperatures between -45°F and 130°F.
Solution: Extremely tough components
Array Technologies engineered DuraTrack™ electronics and drive components for reliable operation in extreme climates.
Control enclosures include shading and other protection to prevent overheating and overcooling. Dry slide bearings prevent binding in extreme cold. Array’s patented wind switch is reliable, accurate and not adversely affected by freezing weather as anemometers can be. DuraTrack has been field-tested at locations with extreme temperatures and winds.
Additional Information
- System Type: Utility Scale
- Location: Hooper (Alamosa County), CO
- Temperature Design Requirement: -45°F
- DC Power: 6.6 MW
- Tracker: DuraTrack™ HZ
- Commissioned: 2007
Thriving in Extreme Heat
Challenge: Extreme temperatures
How do you keep electronics and other equipment working in extreme heat? Locations for utility scale projects range from alpine valleys to low deserts. So, Array has designed systems to be reliable in temperatures between -45°F and 130°F.
Solution: Extremely tough components
Array Technologies engineered DuraTrack™ electronics and drive components for reliable operation in extreme climates.
Control enclosures include shading and other protection to prevent overheating and overcooling. Dry slide bearings prevent binding in extreme cold. Array’s patented wind switch is reliable, accurate and not adversely affected by freezing weather as anemometers can be. DuraTrack has been field-tested at locations with extreme temperatures and winds.
Additional Information
- System Type: Utility Scale
- Location: Blythe, CA
- Temperature Design Requirement: 130°F
- DC Power: 6.6 MW
- Tracker: DuraTrack™ HZ
- Commissioned: 2007
Making Land Twice as Useful
Challenge: Solar installation over wastewater facility
This mixed use project was designed around a wastewater treatment facility. Water basins filled and drained where the solar foundation was to be built.
Solution: Adaptable mounting
The DuraTrack™ tracking system is designed to mount on many different styles of foundations, allowing flexibility for mixed land use projects. For the Anthem project, special foundations are used to keep the trackers high enough to stay out of the water when the basins are full.
Whatever the layout or foundation type, DuraTrack’s adaptability makes it ideal for mixed land use installations.
Additional Information
- System Type: Utility Scale
- Location: Anthem, AZ
- DC Power: 1.1 MW
- Tracker: DuraTrack™ HZ
- Commissioned: 2009
Globally Friendly
Challenge: Meeting local codes, worldwide
Designing and installing systems in a variety of countries means having to convert to different measurements, and adapt to a variety of power standards and building codes.
Solution: Engineering expertise and compliant systems
Array has the engineering expertise and experience needed, and has designed and installed solar tracking systems worldwide, including in Spain, Italy, China, Korea, and the United States.
DuraTrack™ trackers are installed around the globe, and can be included in systems that are compliant with any country’s standards and building codes.
Additional Information
- System Type: Utility Scale
- Location: Les Borges Blanques, Spain
- DC Power: 2 MW
- Tracker: DuraTrack™ HZ
- Commissioned: 2008