FTC Solar releases new model of 1P single-axis solar tracker

FTC Solar, a solar tracker, software, and engineering services provider, has introduced a new one-in-portrait (1P) solar tracker solution called Pioneer.

“Pioneer achieves a full 18%-36% pile count reduction per megawatt vs. the current industry-leading solutions by volume, allowing customers to benefit from reduced labor and materials costs,” said Nagendra Cherukupalli, CTO of FTC Solar. “And with a high-density design, Pioneer enables up to 5% greater energy output for the same site compared to the competition, among numerous other advantages.”

Some features of Pioneer include:

• Reduced pile count: Proprietary and unique design can reduce piles/foundations by 18% or more, reducing capital expenditure and potential rework from refusals
• Higher Energy Density: Shorter row length enables more than 5% greater energy output for a given parcel of land.
• Fast assembly: Proprietary “fast-module” hang technology and using fewer overall fasteners saves time.
• Reduced embedment depth: Zero-degree stow allows for shorter pile embedment depth, with resulting material and labor cost savings.
• Accommodates large-format modules: 550 and 600 W wide format modules are readily accommodated. In addition, no torque tube (TT) dimpling or through-bolts are required to index the module to the TT, allowing for module changes and retrofits.
• High slope tolerance: Including 17.5% north-south tracker row allowance.

Pioneer supports all module factors, including those over 2.4 m in length. In addition, Pioneer will operate independently from the grid during outages and is self-powered by a battery for up to 3 days of backup, offering increased energy resilience. Pioneer is compatible with ground screw foundations.

Through wind tunnel testing, it was determined that Pioneer can withstand wind conditions up to 120 mph.

“The introduction of Pioneer, FTC’s unique solution to 1P single-axis trackers, will disrupt the status quo while enabling the company to serve our customers’ growing portfolios of PV projects with differentiated 1P and 2P solutions,” said Patrick Cook, CCO of FTC Solar.

News item from FTC Solar