Solar trackers: a complete guide to planning your PV project
A practical guide to solar tracking technology, self-consumption, site design, operating costs and the information needed for a project study.
A solar tracker changes the orientation of photovoltaic modules as the sun moves. To decide whether it fits your project, connect the technical design with electricity demand, land use and the operating plan.
Understand the system
The tracker is the moving support and control system; the PV modules convert light into electricity, and the inverter manages electrical conversion. Falco uses single-axis east–west tracking with astronomical control.
The introductory guide explains the principle. The axis comparison helps distinguish alternative architectures.
Measure the electricity need
Gather consumption at the finest practical interval, covering seasonal variations and working patterns. An annual bill alone cannot show whether solar generation coincides with demand.
Distinguish self-consumption, the proportion of generation used on site, from self-sufficiency, the proportion of demand supplied by PV. Evaluate surplus production separately.
Assess the ground and surroundings
Map shading, boundaries, slopes, soil conditions, existing services and access. Include the full movement envelope and safety positions. Structural loads and foundations must be checked for the location and equipment.
For agricultural land, preserve the intended activity and review the requirements of shared land use. A technically possible layout is not automatically permitted.
Compare realistic alternatives
Simulate tracking and fixed PV with equivalent capacity and transparent assumptions. Compare annual production, seasonal profiles and the electricity that the site can actually use.
The comparison guide sets out the cost boundary. Include foundations, connection, commissioning, maintenance and replacements rather than comparing equipment prices alone.
Organise permissions and connection
Identify the competent planning authority and network operator for the installation country and location. Their processes and required documents are separate from choosing a tracker model.
The project preparation checklist helps assemble the information. French projects reported on this website do not establish eligibility in another jurisdiction.
Plan operation before commissioning
Agree inspection responsibilities, fault reporting and access for service. Keep commissioning records, equipment instructions and the maintenance plan together. Tracking automation does not remove the need for supervision and scheduled checks.
Read the maintenance planning guide before finalising the operating budget.
Select the family to study
Sun+ serves residential grounds, SunPro professional sites and Terra agricultural settings. The product comparison provides orientation, followed by project-specific configuration.
Send a site plan, photographs and interval consumption data with your enquiry. These inputs allow a useful assessment of the layout, energy profile and remaining design questions.
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