Updated on: 09/09/2016

What is a Solar Tracker

Solar Trackers are used to increase the energy output from solar panels and solar receivers. Solar Tracker is a device which follows the movement of the sun as it rotates from the east to the west every day. Solar Trackers are used to keep solar collectors/solar panels oriented directly towards the sun, as it moves through the sky every day. Using solar trackers increases the amount of solar energy which is received by the solar energy collector and improves the energy output of the heat/electricity which is generated. Solar Trackers can increase the output of solar panels by 20-30%, which improves the economics of the solar panel project.

Read more about the Types of Solar Trackers and Uses.

Solar Tracker Manufacturers in USA

1. Zomeworks sells solar racking, mounting and tracking solutions. They sell a wide variety of solar trackers which includes F-Series Track Rack Passive Solar tracker, UTR Universal trackers. They sell trackers capable of holding 2-32 modules and cost about $1.2-2/watt depending on the tracker size and features.
2. Array Technologies Inc. is the oldest leading manufacturer of active solar tracking systems in the world and sell under the Wattsun brandname. Wattsun Trackers are manufactured in the USA. They sell for both residential and commercial use. Their single and dual-axis Azimuth series residential and light commercial trackers can mount over 3 kW of photovoltaic modules, while The HZ-Series Carport Trackers mount 10-20 kW.  The µMW -Series installations of one MW and more. Array technologies was the leading tracker supplier in the year 2014 in the North American market, according to IHS.
3. AllEarth Renewables based in Vermont has over 25 years of experience designing and manufacturing wind and solar renewable energy systems. In 2009, they introduced the AllSun Tracker and added solar energy systems to the company’s product portfolio, which required an update of the company name to AllEarth Renewables. The AllSun Tracker is a dual-axis active tracker which uses a motor and GPS (Global Positioning System) to turn the solar panels both from east to west and up and down, to ensure the panels always follow the sun’s elevation.
4. Pure Mechanic  manufactures a PureTrackerHD, a dual-axis solar tracker that is ultra-dense, low profile and cost effective. Compatible with both PV and CPV panels, PureTrackerHD system addresses the commercial and industrial rooftop solar trackers. Our solar technology is a mass-manufactured component that meets any deployment scenario, anywhere on the planet. Price per watt is significantly lower than that of competing products, which allows our customers to realize a true cost-to-performance benefit and to focus on positive outcomes over costs.
5. SunPower – remained in the Top 5 rankings for 2015, owing to its huge pipeline of utility projects. The most popular one is SunPower’s C1 Tracker, considered to be very efficient for solar power plants, inceasing upto 25% more energy when compared to fixed-tilt systems.
6. First Solar – also remained in the Top 5 rankings for 2015, owing to its huge pipeline of utility projects. First Solar single axis trackers increase energy output by up to 25% while reducing LCOE, O&M risk and man hours of installation.
7. Sun Action – Sun Action Trackers was the only leading dual-axis tracker (PST-2AL) supplier to enter the top-five ranking in 2015. The company also released a single-axis tracker (PST-1AX6) in 2015. The company manufactures of solar tracking and racking systems, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It also utilizes its Solar Sensing technology which offers real time solutions.
8. NEXTracker – Infact NEXTracker led the North American solar PV tracker rankings in 2015, according to IHS. NEXTracker now a Flextronics company, was founded in 2013 now has more than 100 manufacturing sites in 30 countries. Its product NX Fusion lowers design costs and reduces planning and commissioning time even further. It comes with an inverter, PV Modules, UPS and conrol system. Its single axis tracker NX Horizon is its most advanced tracker yet, with inbuilt motor power.
9. Exosun – is the manufacturer of cost-effective solar tracking solutions for ground-mounted photovoltaic plants, headquartered in San Fransisco. The comapny manufactures both Exotrack HZ horizontal single-axis tracker and the Exotrack CPV dual-axis tracker, alongwith associted engineering services.
   

Solar Tracker Manufacturers in Canada

Opel Solar – With operations in Shelton, CT and head office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Company, through OPEL, Inc., designs, manufactures and markets high-concentration photovoltaic panels and dual- and single-axis trackers for related CPV and PV systems for energy applications worldwide.

Solar Tracker Manufacturers in Europe

1. Titan Trackers – The company specializes in the design and manufacturing of dual-axis solar trackers. The company is located in Torrijos (Toledo) 45 min from Madrid, in Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. Titan Trackers is a supplier of tracker to Solar Thermal Projects in Spain making it one of the biggest solar tracker companies.Note Solar Thermal Projects all require solar trackers unlike Solar PV projects.

2. Soltec is a leading manufacturer and supplier of single-axis solar trackers, having its headquarters in Spain. The company has increased its annual manufacturing capacity of its SF utility single axis tracker equipment to more than 2 GW. Soltec has over twelve years of global experience in the large-scale PV sector. Soltec is one of the main suppliers of single-axis solar tracker equipment and related services in South America.

Solar Tracker Manufacturers in India

1. Nordic India Solutions offers standard single and dual axis tracking products for commercial applications. The trackers also have inbuilt wind protection to protect the panels if the wind speeds are too high. The trackers can accommodate solar modules occupying upto 25 square meters in area.
2. Mecasolar trackers are fast to install and its 30% higher output compared to fixed installations. It manufacturers both single and dual axis trackers. Sun tracking is astronomically controlled and backtracking can be used as well. the comapny also manufactures seasonal trackers which are considered less effective when compared to the normal solar trackers.
3. Scorpius Tracker is promoted by the team at Chroma Systems and Chroma Energy. It manufactures trackers between 100 kW to 500 kW. A single tracker block is generally 200kW. WiFi enabled inter tracker controller and Wind station communication system is also available.
4. SmartTrak – manufactures both single and dual axis trackers, enhancing energy level by 25-35% and also provides direct and easy access to monitoring and control. SmartTrak also provides tracker control system which allows online monitoring and control and configuration of tracking system at client’s convenience.

Read on how to Buy Cheap Solar Panels

Solar Tracker Manufacturers in China

Chinese Solar Trackers are much cheaper than that available from other companies just like Chinese Solar Panels.The trackers from the Chinese companies sell for as low as 75c-$1/watt and its possible to buy single sets of trackers of 1 kilowatt size as well from these companies.However the operational history for most companies is not too long.

1. Shanghai High Tech Solar Power Co., Ltd. – They claim to have bought the patent of Orion Trackers from Global Solar Fund.They further claim to have the  world’s most advanced solar power tracking system with low maintenance, strong and light structure and maximum exploitation of sun radiation, increasing the energy by more than 35%
2. Wuxi Haosolar Technology Co., Ltd.is engaged in developing and manufacturing dual-axis & single-axis solar tracking systems, off-grid & on-grid solar power systems and LED lights.
3. Haining Chuangyuan Solar Energy Technology Co.,Ltd sells solar energy aluminum frames, cell panel component frames, solar panel trackers and solar energy photovoltaic system installation supports
4. Hangzhou Zhejiang University Sunny Energy Science and Technology Co.,Ltd is more of a total solar products and LED supplier than a solar tracker specialist.The company sells solar panel,PV cell,monocrystalline,polycrystalline,solar lights,solar system,solar module,inverter,solar mounting,pv modules
5. Xiamen Solar First Energy Technology sells a wide variety of  solar products such as solar panels (monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels as well as thin-film solar panels), solar trackers (dual- and single-axis solar trackers), solar rackets, solar lamps (solar street lamps, garden lamps and lawn lamps) and inverters (sine wave and grid inverters); solar systems such as commercial solar systems and small home-use systems.They are a new manufacturer with sales of less than $1million.
6. Changzhou Zixu Solar Power Co., Ltd sells single axis and double axis trackers.It has ISO 9001 certification ,was established in 2009 and has around $25 million in annual sales.