pv magazine Webinar | Wind directionality and stowing position: A new nexus for single-axis tracker safety

Initiative partner: Ideematec

Single-axis tracking has gained serious traction with a 55% increase in sales in 2019, over 2018. The strong numbers could be achieved on the back of emerging markets opening to large-scale solar deployment and the fact that a growing number of developers are convinced of the advantages in terms of LCOE that single-axis trackers can bring.

Still, one concern is quite persistently associated with single-axis trackers – wind-related failures. Much of the debate around the issue has been focussed on wind strength and stowing position. Wind directionality, however, is yet another very important factor to consider, and one that could be decisive in choosing the right mitigation strategies.

In this pv magazine Webinar, our initiative partner and tracker manufacturer Ideematec will send their CEO, Philipp Klemm, and their head of engineering and product management, Nathalie Kermelk, to discuss the benefits of a 0° stowing approach. Stowing refers to the process in which the module table on a single-axis tracker assumes a safe position during a high wind event. Whether that position is a high or low tilt or even sees the modules go in a fully horizontal position, has informed several debates in the industry, in the past. Ideematec champions a horizontal strategy, suggesting the approach is better equipped to deal with oblique and fast-changing wind attack angles.

Joining Ideematec’s speakers is Thorsten Kray, head of buildings aerodynamics of I.F.I. Aachen. Together they will present the findings of a jointly produced white paper. Only with wind directionality issues properly considered, it is possible to build PV arrays which are reliable investments for several decades.

Ideematec’s CSO Hans Jürgen Sauter will also join us and has invited a speaker from the company’s longterm partner schlaich bergermann partner sonne, Markus Balz, to share some practical insights.

This pv magazine Webinar will also look at how common failures can occur, how they can be avoided, and how the myth of unreliable/fragile solar installations can be shed in the coming decade. Join us to find out!

pv magazine Webinar content:
• The benefits of a single-axis tracker
• Wind directionality data from the white paper – short focus on each region
• Analysis of stowing strategies
• Common failures, and mitigations strategies
• Building robust systems to foster trust in the solar industry
• How Ideematec’s latest solution can hold up to the elements

Be part of the conversation!

Questions can be submitted beforehand or during the webinar through a chat window. Marian Willuhn, editor at pv magazine, will be the moderator of this webinar. We look forward to your participation!

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This webinar was recorded on 29 July 2020.