- Warm and Dry Regions with Level Terrain: Single-axis trackers achieve optimal performance in areas that are typically warm and dry with relatively flat land. This setup allows the tracker to maximize sun exposure efficiently while minimizing mechanical complications from uneven terrain.
- Regions Above 30° Latitude: These trackers are especially suited for locations above 30° latitude, where the sun’s path changes enough throughout the year to make tracking beneficial. For example, in India’s varied geography, single-axis trackers can fully utilize their tracking range (+/- 45 degrees) to enhance energy capture.
- Midlatitude and Interior Continental Regions: Studies indicate that single-axis trackers provide significant energy gains over fixed systems in midlatitude regions. For instance, power increases of around 30-42% have been observed in Algeria (a midlatitude country) and similar improvements have been noted in regions like Turkey and Egypt. This is partly because the direct normal irradiance at these latitudes benefits more from tracking solar angles.
- Consistent Solar Patterns: Single-axis trackers are more efficient in regions with consistent solar patterns that allow predictable east-west tracking. This enables typical horizontal single-axis trackers, often oriented North-South, to follow the sun’s daily movement more effectively.
In summary, the best performance of single-axis trackers is found in regions that combine warm, dry climates with relatively flat terrain and are located at mid to low latitudes above 30°, where consistent direct sunlight and solar path variation favor tracking benefits. These conditions help single-axis systems produce 20% to over 40% more energy than fixed systems, depending on exact location and weather.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/are-there-specific-regions-where-single-axis-trackers-perform-better-than-others/
