SGS Verifies a 3.24% Energy Yield Increase at a Mountainous PV Plant in China
A utility-scale solar plant in Shandong Province, China, faced operational challenges due to its early construction, complex terrain, and difficult maintenance conditions. Numerous tracker controller failures by an undisclosed supplier had severely compromised the plant’s energy output.
Commissioned by the plant owner, TrinaTracker provided a full-scale technical upgrade and invited the globally recognized certification authority SGS to conduct an independent evaluation. Over a year of monitoring, results showed that arrays equipped with SuperTrack generated 3.24% more energy compared to reference arrays without the system. Additionally, the TrinaTracker control system operated flawlessly throughout the year, while real-time monitoring and alerting via the Trina Smart Cloud Platform significantly improved maintenance efficiency.
A Fully Integrated Smart Tracking Solution
TrinaTracker’s upgrade package combines an advanced controller, the Trina Smart Cloud Platform, and the proprietary SuperTrack algorithm, offering a seamlessly integrated software-hardware solution. With its high reliability, superior performance, and enhanced efficiency, this solution provides a cutting-edge approach to modernizing and optimizing aging PV plants through digital intelligence.
TrinaTracker’s in-house developed TCU and NCU feature carefully designed protection mechanisms that dynamically adjust tracker angles based on real-time weather data. This significantly reduces the impact of extreme weather events such as strong winds, heavy snow, and hailstorms. Additionally, the TCU instantly detects motor overloads and activates a protective response, preventing potential structural damage caused by overcurrent, thereby ensuring long-term operational stability and safety.
SuperTrack’s advanced Smart Tracking Algorithm (STA) and Smart Backtracking Algorithm (SBA) leverage topographical data to create real-time 3D maps, enabling continuous self-learning and optimization. The system also integrates a bifacial irradiance model to ensure optimal tilt angles in overcast conditions, reducing unnecessary movements and extending operational hours. This is particularly beneficial in diffused light scenarios, where SuperTrack maximizes energy capture and increases overall plant revenue.
On the operations and maintenance (O&M) front, the Trina Smart Cloud Monitoring Platform has redefined traditional solar plant management. The platform provides real-time tracker monitoring, instant fault detection, and automated alerts, reducing response times and minimizing power losses. Features such as data sharing, digital mapping, and motor diagnostic & pre-warning empower O&M teams with precise insights to streamline maintenance planning and enhance overall plant performance.
According to Dr. Kai Sun, Head of Smart Control System R&D at TrinaTracker, the latest cloud-based version of the Smart Cloud Platform allows remote access, multi-site management, and real-time parameter adjustments, further boosting O&M efficiency. Additionally, TrinaTracker has developed a fully automated hail protection feature that integrates weather forecasting with control system automation, enabling early warnings and automatic activation of hail protection mode.
UL Confirms a 2.21% Energy Yield Increase at a PV Plant in Spain
A second real-world case study conducted in Spain, saw authoritative certification body UL monitor energy generation data. Results demonstrated that SuperTrack increased annual energy production by an average of 2.21%, with gains reaching up to 9.15% in overcast conditions.
Smart Control System: Unlocking New Potential for Aging PV Plants
Globally, early-generation solar plants face mounting challenges, including increasing failure rates, complex maintenance demands, and declining efficiency due to outdated technology. By retrofitting existing tracker systems with new controllers, intelligent algorithms and monitoring platforms, TrinaTracker’s Smart Control System breathes new life into aging assets. The system not only delivers measurable energy gains but also eliminates manual inspections, replacing them with 24/7 digital monitoring and real-time alerts to ensure stable, high-performance operation.
Industry analysts at Wood Mackenzie note that demand for smart tracking technologies is growing worldwide. Geographically, adoption is highest in mid-to-high latitude regions, areas with weaker sunlight, and sites with complex terrain. From a policy perspective, smart tracking systems offer a major advantage by improving energy production during low-irradiance hours at sunrise and sunset, resulting in a smoother power generation curve. This is particularly valuable in regions with time-of-use electricity pricing, where higher energy output during off-peak hours translates into significant financial benefits.
TrinaTracker says that as of the end of 2024, its Smart Control System has been deployed or retrofitted in over 7GW of solar projects worldwide. With continuous innovation, TrinaTracker is at the forefront of transforming solar tracking systems, driving the industry towards a smarter, more digitalized future.
