Largest Distributed PV Tracking Power Station in Fujian Province Put into Operation

In August 2022, the largest distributed photovoltaic tracking power station in Fujian Province was officially put into operation at Xiamen Longchi Port. Located on the rooftops of warehouses and office buildings, the station covers a total area of 5,000 square meters with an installed capacity of 385 kW. It is expected to generate 580,000 kWh of electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by 578 tons compared to traditional thermal power.

The biggest highlight of the station is its sun-tracking capability – the PV panels track the sun like sunflowers. The controller's built-in algorithm analyzes the sun's trajectory to calculate the optimal "action plan" for the panels, ensuring they always receive direct sunlight. Lian Chengxin, Manager of the New Energy Department at Xiamen Free Trade Port & Port Authority Power Company, explained that compared to traditional fixed PV stations, this "sunflower" station can increase annual power generation by nearly 20%. The station operates on a "self-generation, on-site consumption, surplus power connected to the grid" model, supplying green electricity directly to production equipment and daily lighting, delivering significant environmental and economic benefits.

Chibi, Hubei: 350MW Fishery-Solar Hybrid Project Adopts Intelligent Tracking System

In October 2022, technical details of the China Resources · Chibi Riyue 350MW fishery-solar hybrid PV power generation project were disclosed. This is the largest fishery-solar hybrid PV project in Hubei Province, with a total capacity of 350MW. Part of the tracking bracket solution uses the Yushou series tracking system provided by Antai New Energy. The project covers approximately 7,300 mu (about 486 hectares). Upon completion, it is expected to provide about 460 million kWh of clean energy annually, saving 130,800 tons of standard coal and reducing CO2 emissions by 321,300 tons per year compared to thermal power generation.

The project adopts Antai New Energy's multi-drive single-axis 2P independent tracking bracket system, with a tracking angle of up to ±60°, highly compatible with large-format bifacial modules, significantly improving power generation efficiency. As a water-surface PV tracking bracket project, installation difficulty is much higher than for ground-mounted stations. Antai New Energy dispatched a professional technical engineering team to provide on-site guidance, even going onto boats for instruction, ensuring full-process tracking service. The project adopts a "PV + water system management + ecological aquaculture + ecological restoration + ecological agriculture" model to maximize both ecological and economic benefits.

Gao'an, Jiangxi: 60MW Fishery-Solar Hybrid Project Sets Tracker Performance Record

Also in the water-surface PV sector, in March 2022, Arctech and Sunshine New Energy completed the delivery of tracking bracket systems for the 60MW fishery-solar hybrid PV project in Xiangfu Town, Gao'an City, Jiangxi Province. The project uses Arctech's patented multi-point parallel drive technology with the Tianzhi II tracking system, designed to stably accommodate large-format bifacial modules.

The Tianzhi II tracking system demonstrates several industry-leading technical indicators. It is the first worm-gear multi-point drive independent tracking system with two rows of modules mounted vertically, completely solving the stability problem of traditional single-point fixed trackers under high wind speeds, with a protection wind speed of 20m/s. While ensuring system stability, it can accommodate 182/210 large-format modules, increasing single-system capacity from 30kW+ to 90kW+, reducing the number of foundations by 52% compared to traditional single-row vertical products. Additionally, the Tianzhi II is equipped with AI tracking algorithms that analyze terrain and layout to avoid inter-row shadows, and establish a meteorological database for cloud-based image recognition and differentiated tracking control.

TrinaTracker: SuperTrack Smart Algorithm Selected as Industry Innovation Achievement

In 2022, TrinaTracker made significant breakthroughs in intelligent tracking algorithms. In May, TrinaTracker launched the newly upgraded SuperTrack intelligent tracking control system at Intersolar Europe 2022 in Munich, Germany, attracting extensive attention from visitors and industry experts. In December, thanks to its strong R&D innovation capabilities, SuperTrack was successfully selected for the "2022 PV Industry Innovation Achievement Recommendation Catalog."

The core technical advantage of SuperTrack lies in its patented bifacial irradiation model (BIM) technology, which uses deep learning to understand the power generation characteristics of bifacial modules under multiple parameters. It dynamically optimizes the optimal tracking angle in real-time based on meteorological and system operation data, increasing power generation under high diffuse irradiance conditions. Additionally, using machine learning and a "micro-shadow" power generation model, it enables complex terrain identification and tracking angle optimization. Compared to conventional tracking algorithms, this system can increase power generation by up to 8%.

It is worth noting that TrinaTracker entered the tracking bracket field in 2020 by acquiring Nclave (ranked 6th globally). Leveraging Trina Solar's over 20 years of PV module R&D experience, by 2022 its global production capacity exceeded 8GW, with global sales exceeding 9GW.

Dongying, Shandong: 800MW Fishery-Solar Hybrid Project Uses Horizontal Single-Axis Trackers

In November 2022, the first phase of the China Resources Caijin Hongguang Fisheries 800MW PV power generation project completed tracker bracket installation. The demonstration project has a planned capacity of 800MW, supported by a 220kV booster station and a 261MW/522MWh energy storage station. It is currently the largest single new energy project and the largest energy storage project in Shandong Province, and also one of the first large-scale wind-PV base projects in the country.

The project uses horizontal single-axis brackets and bifacial module designs, increasing power generation efficiency by about 8% compared to conventional modules. Using cloud computing and 5G communication technology, it achieves digital and intelligent operation and maintenance of the project base. Adhering to an innovative development model of "power generation above, aquaculture below, and eco-tourism integration," the 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares) of land are all aquaculture water surfaces, with no newly added construction land, effectively doubling output from the same land. Upon completion, the project is expected to generate 1.12 billion kWh annually, with estimated revenue of about 10.92 billion yuan over a 25-year operating period.

Arctech: Global Launch of SkyWings II Tracking System, 3GW Shipments to Latin America

In August 2022, at the "China PV Green Supply Chain Conference" in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, Arctech globally launched its next-generation tracking system – the SkyWings II dual-row multi-point parallel drive tracking system. SkyWings II is the world's first dual-row solar tracker using multi-point parallel drive technology, combining the advantages of dual-row trackers with high rigidity on undulating terrain through multi-point parallel drive design, effectively adapting to complex terrain conditions.

In overseas market expansion, in November 2022, Arctech successfully delivered an 82MW SkyWings II tracking system to the Sierras de Ullum PV power generation project in Argentina, marking Arctech's first large-scale ground-mounted project with SkyWings II in Argentina. Located in San Juan Province in western Argentina, the project covers over 100 hectares. Upon completion, it will supply clean electricity to 50,000 households and attract over $60 million in investment to the region. The SkyWings II features multi-point parallel drive technology with a wind protection speed of 22m/s, the highest in the industry. With these two Argentine projects totaling 118MW, Arctech's cumulative shipments to Latin America reached 3GW.

Panzhihua: China's First "Smart Tracking PV + High-Standard Farmland" Project on Abandoned Soil Dump Connected to Grid

In July 2022, Trina Solar and Shudao Group Shuxing Intelligent Energy jointly created China's first "smart tracking PV system + high-standard farmland construction" composite utilization pilot project on an abandoned soil dump next to a highway in Panzhihua, successfully connecting to the grid.

The project uses Trina Solar's 210 Vertex 670W series ultra-high-power modules, paired with high-stability, high-precision Trina Vanguard 1P trackers. Each tracker can hold up to 120 modules. Through the intelligent tracking system, power generation gains reach 10% to 15%. The project combines the advantages of smart tracking PV systems (power supply and communication) to build a smart agricultural IoT, efficiently deploying sensors, digitally empowering traditional agriculture, and promoting agricultural big data applications. This project has enabled the Pan-Da highway area to upgrade from traditional power purchase to green self-generation, serving as an important demonstration of PV-highway synergy in China.

International Market: Dubai Solar Park Deploys AI Tracking System, Efficiency Increases by 30%

On the international stage, solar trackers also demonstrated enormous potential. In February 2022, the fifth phase (900MW) of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai deployed the latest solar tracking technology. The project uses Nextracker's TrueCapture intelligent tracking system, combined with AI and machine learning, effectively solving power loss issues caused by shading and diffuse irradiance. Compared to fixed brackets, the system increases power generation by 20% to 30%.

Meanwhile, the floating solar farm "Proteus," jointly developed by the Netherlands and Portugal, also drew widespread attention in 2022. The farm combines floating solar panels with a sun-tracking system. Its 180 movable panels precisely track the sun's path, increasing power generation by up to 40% compared to static land-based installations. According to industry analysis, driven by these efficiency gains, global demand for solar tracking systems is expected to grow at an annual rate of 16% between 2022 and 2030.

Frontier Exploration: High-Precision Sun-Tracking System for Space Science

Solar tracking technology has not only shined in PV power generation but also achieved major progress in space science research. In November 2022, the high-precision sun-tracking turntable and antenna system for the "Meter-wave Solar Radio Spectrometer," part of the National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure Project – the Ground-based Space Environment Monitoring Network (Meridian Project Phase II) led by the Institute of Space Sciences at Shandong University – passed acceptance testing.

After completing the installation of the main antenna reflector and turntable structure in October 2021, the system underwent extensive coordination and technical breakthroughs. All commissioning was completed in September 2022, and it has been in normal trial operation for over two months. The acceptance expert panel unanimously agreed that the system meets all specified requirements. This system will be used to obtain original scientific data for space exploration, meeting major national needs for space environment monitoring.

Additionally, on July 28, 2022, the large solar-tracking mechanism on China's Wentian Laboratory Module of the Tiangong Space Station made its debut. As one of the key technologies of China's space station, the mechanism uses a "distributed rotary support drive transmission solution" and a "large-flexibility, high-stability servo control system," allowing the solar arrays to always face the sun, ensuring reliable power supply to the space station.

Market Trends: Domestic Tracker Market Share Reaches 12% in 2022, AI Integration Becomes Mainstream

From a market perspective, 2022 became an important turning point for China's PV tracking bracket market. According to CPIA statistics, driven by significant growth in ground-mounted power station installations, the market share of tracking systems in China reached 12% in 2022. Arctech's annual report shows that tracker bracket shipments in 2022 increased by 43% year-on-year.

Intelligence became the core keyword for the tracker bracket industry in 2022. Using intelligent tracking algorithms, companies can accurately calculate the optimal tilt angle of the system, avoid inter-row shadows in real-time, and reduce power loss due to shading. At the same time, tracking systems with monitoring, diagnostics, and data analysis capabilities enable remote monitoring of all station equipment, automatic fault identification, protection, and alarming, minimizing operation and maintenance costs.

With the accelerated construction of large wind-PV bases and the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and machine learning into tracking systems, the technological maturity and market acceptance of solar tracker systems are rapidly increasing. Looking ahead, intelligence, high precision, and full-scenario adaptability will become the main directions of industry development, and Chinese companies, with continuous technological innovation, are occupying an increasingly important position in the global tracker bracket market.