Ideematec, a utility-scale solar tracking systems manufacturer, is supplying Parliament Solar with its Horizon L:TEC 1P solar tracking system for a 640-MW solar project in Texas.
“We are excited to begin our deliveries to Parliament Solar. Beyond advancing clean energy adoption in Texas, projects of such magnitude are vastly accelerating the North American energy transition,” said Philipp Klemm, CEO of Ideematec. “Ideematec has shipped over 5 GW of its award-winning trackers worldwide and our participation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region underscores our competitiveness within the U.S. utility-scale market.”
Ideematec’s Horizon L:TEC 1P is a solar tracking system designed based on a patented decoupled drive technology and a proprietary locking system designed for more stability and the less maintenance.
“The flexible configuration and locking technology of our Horizon L:TEC® tracker is an ideal combination for the demanding environments throughout Texas,” said Mario Eckl, CEO of Ideematec. “Ideematec’s patented technology provides the highest additional gains, optimizes overall yields, and improves the lifetime performance of a solar tracking system.”
News item from Ideematec
Interesting, it seems the project will have a D.C. to A.C. ratio of 1.33 to 1 and there is no mention of ESS being installed at this site. Since the project is being specified as 1.33 to 1, you would figure right now with bifacial solar PV panels not under the tariffs one would look to bifacial and get another 5% to perhaps 20% back side energy capture on any given day. With the tracking array, one could see on average 8 sun hours of solar PV harvest a day in the winter and 10 to 12 hours of solar PV harvest in the summer time. A 33% ESS facility would allow emergency and after hours capacity from this plant and not have to rely on fueled generation for grid capacity. Around 150MWh to 160MWh of smart ESS would be a robust addition to this site. Apparently ERCOT has not realized that when one has energy storage the site can extend its generation into the night, be used for (grid services), when one has an asset with multiple revenue streams, it amortizes sooner than fueled generation plants.