Case Study: RINA Consulting shows 42% lower PV tracker OPEX with ARRAY Technologies' centralized tracker architecture

RINA Consulting cuts PV tracker lifetime OPEX by 42% with Array Technologies

RINA Consulting, acting as an Independent Engineer, was retained by Array Technologies to perform a comparative lifetime cost assessment of different single-axis solar tracker architectures. The challenge was to move beyond upfront capital expenditure (CAPEX) and provide a more valuable analysis by accurately estimating the total operational expense (OPEX) over a PV plant's lifetime to improve profitability and minimize operational risks.

Array Technologies' centralized tracker system was analyzed against a decentralized architecture. The solution, featuring articulated rotating drivelines, was shown to have a more robust design with fewer components, leading to higher reliability and lower maintenance. The results for Array Technologies' product demonstrated a 42% reduction in total lifetime OPEX, over $1.3 million in increased NPV for asset owners, a lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), and an additional 13,000 MWh of energy output over the plant's lifetime.

RINA Consulting