Energetica India Magazine October-November 2021

SOLAR POWER Tomorrow’s Solar Tracker: Artificial Intelligence to be Part of Upcoming PV Projects 30 energetica INDIA- Oct-Nov_2021 Daniel Timm Engineering and Construction Director STI Norland Brasil In light of estimates suggesting that photovoltaic solar energy will be the most used power generation source worldwide as of 2035, solar tracker manufacturers seek new technologies to enhance their products and optimize power generation in their PV plants. Trackers, which are developed to op- timize energy absorption and increase power plant generation, can favor pan- el efficiency gains of up to 30 per cent, depending on project location. With the aim to improve their products, other as- pects considered by manufacturers are the interaction between trackers and other plant equipment, including panels and inverters. Renewable energies are consistently leading the power-generation scene, with projects increasingly larger which at times cover extensions equivalent to 700 football fields. Just last year (2020), the overall power generation capacity from renewable sources grew 45 per cent, according to the International En- ergy Agency. To satisfy high demand, the solar market is now using two tech- nologies: bifacial modules and artificial intelligence. Bifacial Modules Bifacial solar panels, as their name sug- gests, capture energy in both the front and rear sides. This technology is not new, as it was launched in the 80s with the aim to maximize the efficiency of something considered back then a lux- ury item due to its high cost. Nowadays, the considerable price re- duction of this technology has translated Artificial intelligence will provide greater tracker autonomy not only from following the sun’s path but also in terms of achieving ideal power generation conditions.