ARRAY Wind XP™
What Is ARRAY Wind XP?
ARRAY Wind XP™ is ARRAY Technologies’ patented passive wind-stow technology for supported utility-scale solar trackers. It uses a mechanical, row-level response to wind-induced loading, allowing affected tracker rows to move toward a protective stow position while less-affected rows may continue tracking.
Wind XP is integrated into supported ARRAY tracker systems and does not require electrical power, wind sensors or site-wide commands to initiate its primary passive wind response.
Wind Doesn't Affect Every Tracker Row the Same Way
Wind conditions can vary across a utility-scale solar site. Direction, speed, layout and local exposure influence the loads experienced by individual tracker rows. That makes how a tracker responds to wind an important design consideration.
Moving trackers into a protective stow position helps manage wind exposure, but it can also reduce energy production when modules are no longer positioned to follow the sun. Wind-stow strategies that command broad groups of rows to stow may temporarily interrupt tracking in areas experiencing lower wind loading.
The challenge is managing wind exposure while limiting unnecessary production losses.
Wind XP Responds Where Wind Forces are Highest
Wind XP uses a mechanical torque-limiting mechanism that allows individual tracker rows to respond to wind-induced loading.
When the torque experienced by a row reaches the system’s design threshold, the mechanical mechanism allows wind forces to move the affected row toward its protective stow position. Mechanical stops help stabilize the row at its designed maximum tilt.
Because the response occurs locally, rows experiencing lower wind-induced loading may continue tracking.
Wind XP is integrated into supported ARRAY tracker systems, providing passive mechanical wind response at the row level.
Passive Versus Active Stow
Passive and active wind stow use different methods to initiate a protective tracker response. Both approaches are designed to manage wind exposure, but their operating strategies can affect how many rows stop tracking during a wind event.
| FEATURE | ACTIVE STOW | WIND XP PASSIVE RESPONSE |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Response | Commanded response using sensors, controls and actuation | Mechanical response to wind-induced loading at the tracker row level |
| Trigger | Measured conditions reach programmed thresholds | Wind-induced torque reaches the row's design threshold |
| Stow Behavior | Broader groups of rows move according to the system's control strategy | Affected rows respond locally; less-affected rows may continue tracking |
| System Requirements | Depends on the applicable sensing, control, communication and power architecture | Does not require electrical power, wind sensors or external commands for its primary passive wind response |
| Potential Energy Impact | Production impact depends on stow thresholds, duration and system architecture | May reduce unnecessary wind-stow-related production losses |
Modeled Wind-Stow Analysis Shows Lower Energy Loss with Passive Response
ARRAY developed a wind-stow energy-loss analysis comparing passive and active tracker stow strategies. DNV independently reviewed and validated the study’s modeling approach and assumptions.
For the selected cases evaluated, passive wind stow generally resulted in lower modeled energy losses than the active-stow strategies considered.
The findings demonstrate how row-level passive wind response may help preserve energy production by reducing unnecessary stow. Results depend on wind characteristics, site conditions, tracker configuration and the operating strategies compared.
0.05% average modeled energy loss with passive stow
Passive stow produced approximately 0.05% average energy loss in the modeled cases evaluated—equivalent to approximately 99.95% average modeled energy retained**.
2.8% average modeled energy loss with active stow
The active-stow strategies evaluated produced approximately 2.8% average energy loss in the modeled cases—equivalent to approximately 97.2% average modeled energy retained.
4.3% highest modeled energy loss with active stow
The highest calculated energy loss among the active-stow strategies evaluated was 4.3% in the modeled cases.
Are You Losing Energy to Wind?
Download “Is Wind Costing You?” to explore how wind-stow strategies affect tracker behavior, energy loss and project performance.
What Wind XP Means for Your Solar Project
ARRAY Tracker Systems Featuring Wind XP
| TRACKER SYSTEM | CONFIGURATION | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|
| ARRAY DuraTrack® | Linked-row AC tracker, up to 32 rows per drive | |
| ARRAY OmniTrack® | Terrain-following linked-row tracker, up to 32 rows per drive | |
| ARRAY DuraTrack D2S™ | Two-row DC-powered tracker | |
| ARRAY DuraTrack Hail XP™ | High-angle hail-response tracker |
See Wind XP Respond to Real Wind Conditions
See how passive wind stow responds at the tracker-row level. This time-lapse from ARRAY’s Colorado test site shows tracker behavior during changing wind conditions. Over the six-hour observation period, recorded wind speeds ranged from 33 to 80 mph. The footage shows an exterior row moving toward a protective stow position while other rows continue tracking.
The video demonstrates how wind-induced loading can affect rows differently across the same site. Use the timestamps below to see key moments in the test:
- 11:50 am: The exterior row on the right moves toward a stow position at a recorded wind speed of 68 mph while other rows continue tracking.
- 12:30 pm: The same row responds again as recorded wind speed reaches 80 mph.
- 2:10 pm: The exterior row stows again at a recorded wind speed of 78 mph while the other rows remain in operation.
- 4:00 pm: The row remains stowed overnight and is scheduled to resynchronize with the other rows the following morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Passive wind stow is a solar tracker wind-response approach that uses wind-induced mechanical forces to move tracker rows toward a protective stow position. Unlike active wind stow, which typically relies on sensors, controls and commands to initiate the primary response, passive stow responds mechanically to wind loading. ARRAY Wind XP™ applies this technology at the row level, allowing affected rows to respond while less-affected rows may continue tracking.
No. Wind XP responds at the tracker-row level, so not every row necessarily enters stow during the same wind event. Rows experiencing sufficient wind-induced loading can move toward a protective stow position while less-affected rows may continue tracking. The number and location of rows that respond depend on wind direction, loading, site conditions and tracker configuration.
Wind direction influences how wind loads are distributed across a solar site and the forces experienced by individual tracker rows. With Wind XP, the number and location of rows entering stow can vary depending on wind direction and local loading. This localized response can help reduce unnecessary stow while allowing less-affected rows to continue tracking when conditions permit.
No. Wind XP does not require electrical power, batteries, anemometers or site-wide commands to initiate its primary passive wind response. Wind-induced loading activates the mechanical response at the tracker row. The complete tracker system may still use power, controls, communications and software for normal tracking and other functions, depending on the product configuration.
Wind XP responds mechanically when wind-induced torque reaches the system’s design threshold, without waiting for sensors, communications or site-wide commands. ARRAY technical materials document movement toward a protective stow position in less than three seconds under applicable conditions. Actual response time depends on wind loading, direction, tracker configuration and project-specific design conditions.
Wind XP can provide passive mechanical wind protection once the required tracker components are installed, without waiting for normal site power, communications or controls to be commissioned. This helps reduce wind exposure during construction, when other site systems may not yet be operational. Protection availability depends on tracker configuration, installation status and applicable design requirements.
After wind conditions subside, a passively stowed ARRAY tracker row can resume tracking and producing energy before fully realigning with the rest of its linked block. The drive system can then return the row to alignment as normal operation resumes. Recovery behavior and timing depend on the tracker system, operating strategy and site conditions.
Wind XP is integrated into supported ARRAY tracker systems, including DuraTrack®, OmniTrack®, DuraTrack Hail XP® and DuraTrack D2S™ configurations. ARRAY STI H250® uses a different wind-protection approach based on active response to weather-station inputs. Availability and configuration requirements vary by tracker system and project. Refer to the applicable product page or data sheet for details.
Wind XP and ARRAY SmarTrack® serve complementary roles. Wind XP provides the tracker’s primary passive mechanical wind response, while SmarTrack is ARRAY’s software platform for tracker operation and optimization. SmarTrack capabilities include Terrain Adaptive Backtracking, Diffuse Weather Response, Automated Snow Response and Hail Alert Response, depending on tracker configuration. Wind XP is an integrated mechanical technology, not a SmarTrack software feature.
ARRAY’s wind-stow energy-loss analysis, reviewed and validated by DNV, found generally lower modeled energy losses for passive stow than for the active-stow strategies evaluated in selected cases. The findings are summarized in ARRAY’s Is Wind Costing You? white paper. Results depend on wind characteristics, site conditions, tracker configuration, operating strategy and modeling assumptions. The analysis does not guarantee the same energy advantage for every project.
*This is a modeled comparison, not a guaranteed production result. The modeled energy advantage does not apply uniformly to every project or operating condition.
**Analysis validated by DNV. “Energy retained” reflects the study’s stated energy-loss metric and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed project-level production result. Results vary based on wind characteristics, wind direction, site conditions, tracker configuration, operating strategy and study assumptions.
Want to learn more about how ARRAY’s technology can protect your solar investments?
Wind conditions, site layout and tracker configuration all influence wind-stow behavior and potential energy impacts. Connect with ARRAY to discuss the wind-response considerations relevant to your project.