Strategies to Optimize and Validate Backtracking Performance of Single-Axis Trackers on Sloped Sites

Tracking optimization is one strategy that PV plants can employ to maximize energy production on sites with variable terrain. Three different backtracking modes (baseline, commissioned, and SmarTrack™) are considered here for analysis and result in demonstrated different energy production profiles. An alternating operation validation strategy is described to compare these different modes of operation in the field, and experimental results for one example site are presented. A methodology to simulate this behavior is described, showing results both for the validation period as well as annual results.