Tracker-mounted solar projects give higher output than fixed-tilt systems: Study

A comparative assessment of solar mounting technologies in India has found that horizontal single-axis tracker systems can deliver significantly higher energy output and lower lifecycle power costs compared with conventional fixed-tilt solar installations, according to an independent analysis by SgurrEnergy and Nextpower.

The study compared the performance and cost structure of fixed-tilt and tracker-based solar photovoltaic plants across three representative locations in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The analysis evaluated differences in energy yield, capacity utilisation factor, and levelised cost of electricity for utility-scale projects.


The findings show that tracker-based systems deliver 15-23% higher specific energy yield, while achieving 3-5 percentage points higher capacity utilisation factor on installed direct current (DC) capacity and 2-6 percentage points improvement in performance ratio compared with fixed-tilt configurations.

These gains are attributed to improved irradiance capture through dynamic sun tracking, reduced inverter clipping losses, and higher bifacial energy contribution.

The analysis also says that tracker systems can achieve the same capacity utilisation factor with 14-18% lower installed DC capacity than fixed-tilt plants. Lower module requirements reduce overall material intensity in modules, electrical balance-of-system components and civil works, partially offsetting the higher mechanical cost of tracker mounting structures.

Despite somewhat higher operating expenditure associated with moving components and maintenance requirements, the study found that tracker-based projects demonstrate 7-10% lower engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) capital expenditure under optimised configurations, resulting in lower lifecycle energy costs across the sites that were evaluated.

The results also suggest that mounting configuration plays a key role in determining project economics and performance in large-scale solar deployments, particularly as developers seek to optimise generation profiles and reduce the cost of electricity.