Solar Tracker Market Report

Bifacial solar panels are special photovoltaic technology that can collect light from both the back and front sides and therefore yield a greater energy production ratio compared to traditional single-sided solar panels. Solar trackers can improve bifacial solar technology by enabling panels to track the sun's movement, maximizing sun exposure throughout the day. This boosts energy capture from both sides, enhancing overall efficiency and yield. The advantage of bifacial panels is the improvement in terms of efficiency, mostly being able to produce 10–20% more from reflected sunlight off surfaces such as rooftops or ground.

Furthermore, as per OSTI government research, there is an increase of 30–50% in output power. The unique design enables them to work effectively in different environments, especially when installed in areas with experiences of snowfall or reflective surroundings. Also, as per the data, there is a growing demand for bifacial solar panels due to the high maximization of energy output and low cost, and most importantly, the focus on renewable power solutions, as such, becomes a preferred choice for both residential and commercial applications. 

The maintenance and operating costs of solar trackers are very expensive because they have a mechanical complexity requiring scheduled inspections, lubrication, cleaning, and recalibration for maximum performance. Environmental conditions such as rain and excessive temperatures can significantly augment this wear and tear mechanism, which increases the maintenance trials. The installation would, therefore, require the operators to budget for continued maintenance and perhaps required repairs, which would influence installations of solar trackers quite highly, in particular for large-scale projects. The next challenge that highly affects the market is geographical limitations, which significantly affect the applicability of solar trackers because they are potentially more susceptible to wind effects, especially with high gusts and extreme conditions that call for careful site selections. Further challenges with solar trackers include increased land requirements compared to fixed systems. In urban regions, the availability of land is limited and expensive. Other competing uses for the land and local zoning also may limit the availability of suitable sites, hence requiring a preliminary assessment of land rights and regulatory compliance before deployment.

In September 2024, Arctech, the world’s leading solar tracking, racking, and BIPV solutions provider, unveiled its latest innovation: SkyLight, a tracker that revolutionized the solar energy sector. The launch took place during an exclusive event called SkyLight Solar Synergy, held in partnership with JA Solar and Solis – renowned manufacturers of solar modules and inverters, racking, respectively. The 1P Linked Dual-row Solar Tracking System SkyLight was designed with a single-point drive mechanism, catering to low wind speed regions, particularly in the Latin American market. It offered an optimal combination of reliability, safety, stability, and cost-effectiveness. In April 2024, Soltec, a vertically integrated Spanish PV company, announced in a recent statement that it had launched a new 125-meter-long, dual-row horizontal, single-axis solar tracker system. The SFOneX system had a tracking range of 55 degrees, and there was an option to upgrade it to 60 degrees. The company stated that it could be used with 72-cell, 78-cell, or 60-cell modules – both crystalline and thin-film panels. It could adapt to both north-south and east-west orientations of up to 15%. It could use a driven pile, ground screws, or concrete and could handle temperatures of up to 55 C.

The demand for the solar tracker market is expected to rise in Asia Pacific countries due to their rising use of solar energy. The demand for solar panels is expected to rise because governments tend to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and act as combatants against climate change through friendly policies and incentives. Moreover, the reduced cost of solar technology and public awareness about environmental issues enhance the use of solar energy within the region. As per the data of the United States Government for the year 2024, China has installed more than 100 GW DC, whereas India has installed more solar in the first half of 2024 than it did for all of 2023. Additionally, as per Carbon Brief, it is forecasted that the overall capacity for the year 2028 may reach 1000 GW as China exceeded 100 GW in the first eight months of 2023.

Similarly, India can also be considered a lucrative market due to its policies and support for solar energy. In the year 2024, while announcing the interim budget for 2024-2025, a sum amount of US$ 1.02 billion was allocated for solar power grid infrastructure development. Thus, rising solar power use is expected to boost the demand for solar trackers. Furthermore, North America, and specifically the United States, is considered a lucrative market due to its rising imports of photovoltaic imports. As per the data of the United States Government for the year 2024 in quarter 2, the imports grew approximately by 18 GW dc (+17% q/q), or 33 GW dc for the first half of 2024; furthermore, the United States imported 3 GW dc of cells in 2024, which makes the United States a lucrative market.