Historically, the land used for utility-scale solar farms has needed to be graded extensively to establish a smooth, level surface. This allows for proper alignment of solar panels and solar trackers to maximize the panels’ orientation toward the sun. However, such grading is labor-intensive, disrupts the natural landscape, and substantially increases both the carbon footprint and cost of a new installation.
Enter the terrain-following tracker, a solar tracking system specifically designed to function on uneven or sloped terrain. By conforming to the natural contours of the land, terrain-following trackers maximize the energy captured by solar panels, significantly reducing grading requirements by up to 90%.
Terrain-following tracker technology is not new; it was introduced in the 2010s by innovative manufacturers aiming to broaden the range and suitability of sites for solar projects. However, initial adoption was slow due to developers' preference for flatland installations and the higher initial costs associated with the technology. These days, such lackluster adoption is turning around.